Knee decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, right foot and a left below-the-knee amputation as secondary to tinea pedis, left foot prior to June 1999. The evidence did not establish that the veteran had current disabilities or continuity of symptomatology related to his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right and left knee conditions are related to his military service, but there is no evidence of a chronic ankle injury.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee and has reopened the claim to reopen a service connection for a back disability, finding new and material evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability incurred or aggravated by service. The veteran's arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is currently rated at 40% and not higher.

The veteran's right knee disability has improved and is now rated at 10 percent, effective December 1, 1998.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of the current 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, status post medial meniscectomy.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for bilateral knee DJD, finding no competent and persuasive evidence linking the current disability to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of entitlement to an increased disability evaluation for sinusitis remains pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, left knee disability, neck disability, sinus disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, PUD with chronic hematochezia, psychiatric disorder, or hearing loss that is related to service. The tinnitus was also denied as it did not manifest during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee condition and service connection for a disability of his thoracolumbar spine. The evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, a bilateral knee disability, and pes planus. The decision found no current psychiatric or physical disabilities for which VA compensation benefits could be awarded.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing, automobile and adaptive equipment, or special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his ability to perform most of his daily activities without regular assistance.

The VA denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee replacement, currently rated at 40 percent.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and knee conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for torn ligaments of the left leg involving the thigh and knee region, effective July 31, 2002. The claim for an increased rating for traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left knee is denied.

The veteran's dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis and disc herniation L5-S1 disability was granted a 60 percent evaluation effective October 2, 2000. His left knee disability was also granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective the same date.

The veteran's cluster migraine headaches were incurred during her active duty service and are considered service connected. The Board has also found that the veteran's major depressive disorder/dysthymia is proximately due to her service-connected cluster migraine headache disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service trauma or aggravation, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any condition was aggravated by service.