Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, left knee in March 1997. The veteran's new and material evidence was not sufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability, finding that the current rating of 20 percent is appropriate based on the evidence showing limitation of motion and swelling but no malunion or instability warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's bilateral knee disorder on a direct basis, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service and no indication that it is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to failure to address whether the duty to assist and the duty to notify had been met.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritic changes of the left knee effective June 19, 2001. The veteran's previous claim was denied in October 1986 due to lack of evidence supporting his claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee disability, post-operative Osgood Schlatters disease, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's tendonitis of the left knee, status post arthroscopic surgery, did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent due to its current manifestations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20 percent evaluation, and his left knee disabilities do not warrant increased evaluations.

The medical evidence shows that the veteran's left knee disability is manifest by arthritis shown by x-ray findings, painful motion, and not more than mild limitation of flexion. The criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent disabling for left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease are not met.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10% for the left knee. The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has determined that the veteran's DJD of the left knee is a result of an injury incurred in service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disabilities and increased ratings for the veteran's left and right knee disabilities. The hip disabilities are deemed to be directly related to playing football during service, while the knee disabilities are rated based on their current manifestations of degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities of the knees and ankles are not service-connected, as there is no evidence showing an injury or disease during service or for certain conditions evidence showing the condition first appeared within one year after service discharge. The current disability was also not caused by a service-connected condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's current right knee disorder is the result of a service injury in 1974, and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing, special home adaptations, or adaptive equipment due to his disabilities.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability, which was previously rated as 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260. The condition is now evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5257 due to its nature as degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that his current conditions are not related to his service-connected pes planus. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was also denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's chronic left hamstring strain and left knee tendonitis are related to his service, granting service connection for these conditions. However, there is no current evidence of a right knee disorder attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and low back strain, but denied service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease and chest pain.,Service connection is established for a left knee disability (patellofemoral syndrome) due to continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for a low back disability is granted based on the veteran's reported history during service.

The Board denied a rating higher than 30 percent for the veteran's left total knee replacement from October 1, 1998, to March 25, 2001.