Knee decisions — 2005

The veteran's application for TDIU was received on September 13, 2001. The effective date of the grant of TDIU is set at November 3, 2000, as this is when entitlement to TDIU arose in the year preceding the date of the veteran's claim.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective November 4, 2004.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain. The evidence did not support a finding that any current right or left knee disorder was related to military service.

The Board granted service connection for plantar fasciitis, a back disorder secondary to pes planus, and denied service connection for an ankle disorder and knee disorder as secondary to pes planus.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability was not caused by treatment administered at the VA medical facility, and therefore denied his claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right elbow disorders are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and extension of a temporary total rating were denied as there was no evidence showing the need for additional convalescence beyond November 1, 2000.

The RO granted service connection for tinea corporis and assigned an initial noncompensable evaluation, which was later increased to 10 percent effective October 14, 2000. The other issues remain unresolved.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of psychiatric disability, and a right foot lesion was determined to be secondary to service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and low back disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disorders are not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his degenerative joint disease of the left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of whether separate ratings may be granted based on different symptoms.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right knee strain and right thigh scar have been denied as there is no evidence of instability or subluxation warranting an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for a temporary total rating beyond August 31, 2002 was denied as his convalescent period did not extend past that date.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the veteran's low back disability, as it was not shown to be related to his active duty. The left knee disability is considered primary and requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining complete service medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder including arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, generalized arthritis, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-tibial tendonitis of both knees does not warrant an increased evaluation as there is no objective medical evidence demonstrating limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability and a right knee disability, finding no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to support a secondary relationship between his right foot disorder and his right knee condition.

The veteran's right knee disability was not granted a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 2, 2002 and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent from that date. The RO found the evidence did not meet the criteria for such ratings.