Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, residuals of a right elbow injury, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia patella, assigning a 10% rating for each knee since August 30, 2002. The evidence did not show that the veteran's knee disabilities warranted an evaluation higher than 10%.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a medial meniscus tear of the right knee and an increased rating for his right knee disability have been granted. His current rating is 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disorder is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left knee.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, which is currently rated at 10 percent for a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament, does not warrant an increase in rating as there is no evidence of moderate or severe instability. The current evaluation adequately reflects the functional impairment due to pain and other symptoms.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury. The veteran's appeal was denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from May 1, 2000 to March 26, 2002, based on slight instability. After surgery, the ligaments were found to be stable and no further compensable ratings are warranted.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee and calf disability, finding that the current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of her condition.

The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of this rating. The veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his service-connected disability did not render him unemployable.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's service-connected post-operative disability of the right fourth toe with painful callosities does not meet criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent.,There is no evidence that the veteran has a current disability of the right knee or hip that is related to his service-connected disability of the right fourth toe. Therefore, service connection for these disabilities secondary to the right fourth toe is denied.,Similarly, there is no evidence that the veteran has a current disability of the right ankle or lumbar spine that is related to his service-connected disability of the right fourth toe. Therefore, service connection for these disabilities secondary to the right fourth toe is also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chalazion and left knee disorder, as well as his claim for an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The effective date of service connection is set at July 9, 2001.

The veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disorder, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right knee meniscus injury. The Board has determined that additional development is needed and the case is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left knee disability and assigned a 20 percent rating, which is higher than the initial 10 percent rating previously assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's synovitis of the left knee, characterized by degenerative joint disease (DJD) and limited motion, warrants a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has restored a 30% disability rating for traumatic arthritis of the right knee due to service-connected recurrent dislocations, effective from February 4, 1999. The veteran's claim is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches, a back disorder, and a knee disorder. The VA found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board found no medical relationship between the veteran's current back and left knee disabilities and his service-connected pes planus, thus denying both claims for secondary service connection.