Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability was incurred during active service and is granted service connection.

The veteran's claim to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma was denied. His left knee disability is currently rated as 20% disabling effective February 26, 2005, but he argues that a higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and residuals of a right knee injury, as well as his claim for an increased disability evaluation for hearing loss of the right ear. The decision also granted service connection for hearing loss of the right ear but assigned a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the left knee residuals of reconstruction effective October 1, 1998.

The veteran's initial evaluations for lumbosacral strain, gastroesophageal reflux, sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, chondromalacia patellae of the right knee, chondromalacia patellae of the left knee, prostatitis, and bilateral flat feet have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness. The reasons were provided in the decision summary.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee warrants a 20 percent evaluation, but his TDIU claim is denied as his combined compensation rating does not meet the percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU rating on a schedular basis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee and residuals of fractured right femur, do not warrant a higher evaluation. The TDIU rating was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's right knee disability is the result of surgeries performed at VA facilities in April and August 1994, which resulted in additional disability. The Board grants compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for this condition.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the disability rating for left knee instability from 20% to 10% was improper and restored the 20% evaluation. The evaluations for right knee instability, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and left knee arthritis remain denied.

The veteran's residuals of right tibia fracture are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The veteran's left below the knee amputation with left femur fracture is currently evaluated as 40 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,The donor graft site, right gastrocnemius scar and upper lip and left medial eyebrow scars are each rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, involving degenerative changes and a semilunar cartilage defect, does not warrant an initial rating greater than 20 percent. The veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5258 for his service-connected condition.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the veteran's left knee disability.

The VA determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee warrants a 10 percent disability rating, effective July 23, 2003.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her left knee disability is granted, with a new rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition.,The veteran's current bilateral knee conditions are not considered to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current left shoulder, right knee, or left knee disabilities that began during service or as a consequence of service. The veteran's skin conditions are secondary to his service-connected perianal dermatitis.