Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis of the knees cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee and leg disorder or left knee and leg disorder that is due to disease or injury incurred in service. The claims are therefore denied.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities, as the evidence does not show that they meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left leg and knee disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of functional impairment or limitation of motion in either knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee injury with mild meniscal tear and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, both currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's headaches are found to be aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. Service connection is granted for the status-post bunionectomy, with surgical scar, hallux valgus, and plantar fasciitis of each foot. The initial compensable ratings for these conditions remain unchanged. Higher initial disability ratings for instability of the right knee and limitation of flexion and traumatic arthritis are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the conditions he is seeking service connection for, and therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The knee disorder claim is remanded due to lack of relevant medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, lateral patella compression of both knees with chondromalacia of the right knee (claimed as a bilateral knee disorder), residuals of a right fifth finger fracture, and right and left ankle disorders.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection and reopening a claim of residuals of a left knee injury are no longer valid as the veteran passed away.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a BVA hearing at a local VA office.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from performing full-time employment as a recreational therapist, and thus he is not entitled to additional vocational rehabilitation training.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right knee, left knee, and left pectoralis minor muscle disabilities. The effective date of the increased ratings remains March 5, 2001.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 2003 for the grant of a 60 percent evaluation for the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated during his military service and could not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence did not establish a connection between his current knee disorders and his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the current disabilities were not related to inservice activities.

The Board denied evaluations in excess of the current ratings for traumatic arthritis and instability of both knees, as well as a total knee arthroplasty. The veteran's claims were based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee strain, with a noncompensable rating from April 15, 1989 to July 31, 1991, and in excess of 10 percent from August 1, 1991. The low back disorder was not found to be service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a combined rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not show more than moderate instability or compensable limitation of flexion or extension.