Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a skin disorder, bilateral hip and knee disorders, and bilateral ankle disorders due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability and service connection for vision focus problems, sleep loss, and short-term memory loss. The veteran's conditions were not found to be related to service or undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and right knee disorder. The veteran did not timely file a Substantive Appeal regarding the denial of left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, and heart disease. The RO found that there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right ankle or knee disability during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance, entitling him to special monthly compensation. He also meets criteria for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's earlier effective date claim for service connection for limitation of motion of the mandible. The RO granted service connection and initial ratings for sinusitis, headaches, and chondromalacia of the left knee on April 30, 1996, which is considered the effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected hypertension, right knee instability, right knee degenerative joint disease, peeling feet (dermatophytosis, tinea unguium, and tinea pedis), and lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's increased evaluation claims for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure, and he does not have a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in any of the conditions listed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records related to a left leg amputation and providing VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

Service connection for residuals of a left knee injury was granted effective February 12, 1992. The veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for vertigo was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and due process concerns, including obtaining an opinion on whether current ankle, knee, or back disabilities are aggravated by service-connected traumatic arthritis of the great toes.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for tinnitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder. The claim of service connection for hepatitis C is pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis affecting his cervical and lumbosacral spines, knees, and ankles as secondary to his service-connected burn scars. The veteran was also denied increased ratings for his third degree burn scars of the posterior left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and chest/back area.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee, status post right anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, hypertension, and residuals of a left shoulder injury.

The veteran's left knee disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling due to degenerative changes with some pain on motion. The disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence did not show severe impairment of the right knee.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disorders. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to March 2, 2005, with a staged increase to 70 percent thereafter.