Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge. The examiner concluded that the current knee conditions are less likely than not related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that pes planus pre-existed his entry into service and was not aggravated by active duty. The decision also noted that there is no evidence of treatment for the left knee disability during or immediately after service.

The Board granted an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability and found new and material evidence to reopen her claim for service connection of a left knee disability, but denied service connection for the left knee disability.

The veteran's service-connected right knee popliteal cyst with small meniscus tear, left knee arthritis, and cervical spine degenerative changes are currently rated at 10 percent each. The claims for increased ratings have been denied.

The Board has granted a combined rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella, based on a formulation of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257 and 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of his service. The claims for right knee, ankle, sinus headaches, low back, undiagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral elbow pain, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral wrist pain, and bilateral hand pain are all denied.

The Board is remanding the case for notification of what evidence would be required to substantiate the element or elements needed for service connection that were found insufficient in the prior denial, and for readjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, an initial compensable evaluation for a right ankle disability, and an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle disability on and after November 23, 2004. The veteran was also denied entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his heart disease was secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The right leg disorder claim was not addressed as it pertained to reopening of a previously denied claim.

The Board has found that the veteran's left knee disability, with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and arthrofibrosis, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. His claim for increased rating of post-phlebitic syndrome and right knee disability was granted with a 30% and 20% ratings, respectively.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation than the current 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability was denied, but he received a separate 20% rating for instability. His middle finger fracture and associated scar were granted initial compensable ratings.

The Board found no current disability related to the knees and concluded that service connection for bilateral knee pain is not warranted.

The veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30 percent for instability and granted a separate 10 percent rating for pain and limitation of motion from February 4, 2002 to November 12, 2003. The Board found that the veteran maintained full range of motion in his right knee with complaints of constant pain.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, patellofemoral pain syndrome and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, bilateral primary open angle glaucoma, allergic rhinitis, and corns of the feet. The service connection theory was determined to be direct.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, left knee disability, and left elbow disability. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, and ankle disabilities secondary to his left ankle disability. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left ankle fracture is being remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain missing treatment records from Fort Benning, Georgia. The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.