Knee decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran currently does not have a right knee disorder and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, manifested by postoperative degenerative joint disease and instability, warrants a rating of 10 percent for each condition.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for generalized anxiety disorder and right knee disorders are being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for evaluations of his service-connected knee and hand disabilities, as well as his claim for individual unemployability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection for right and left knee disabilities related to his low back disorder has been granted. He is currently rated at 50% for his low back disorder from March 22, 2005 to the present.

The Board granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's left knee disability and a 20 percent rating for his right shoulder disability. The skin condition claim was not addressed as it is separate from the increase in ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's DJD of the left knee does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), migraine headaches, left hip disability, and left knee disability. The reasons were that the claimed conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for instability of his right knee and degenerative joint disease of his right knee, finding that the evidence does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a disability of the knees, back, or right shoulder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee and left ankle disabilities are related to his service-connected left hip disability. The veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, low back, and right foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain missing service records and additional medical evidence, in order to decide whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder.

The veteran's right knee disability, including residuals of torn cartilage and cyst removal as well as osteoarthritis, is rated at 30 percent due to severe impairment. The veteran's osteoarthritis does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance with special adaptive equipment, or for special adaptive equipment only were denied due to the lack of service-connected permanent total disability. The veteran is already receiving a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine the extent of his service-connected disabilities and whether he meets the criteria for adaptive equipment or housing.

The veteran does not have a current diagnosis for a bilateral knee condition, including Osgood-Schlatter disease. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying conditions.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's left knee disability.,The Board also finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's thoracic spine disability.,Service connection for the degree of aggravation of lumbar spine disability, proximately due to or the result of the service-connected left knee disability, is granted.