Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, prostatitis, and back disability. The gastrointestinal disability is not considered a separate issue as it is secondary to PTSD.,Service connection was established for the veteran's left knee disability due to aggravation during service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee strain, finding that there was no chronic disability related to an injury in service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, either as secondary to ganglion cyst removal or related to a left ankle disability. The Board determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability was incurred during service and granted service connection for it.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle, left foot, right foot, and left knee disorders are not due to disease or injury incurred in service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The current evaluations assigned for his wrist, knee, and shoulder disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 20 percent and 10 percent ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a dental disability, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied. The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and left knee strain, finding that the veteran's complaints of knee pain during active duty service are supported by medical evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability is not related to active duty or service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left thigh involving muscle groups XIII and XIV do not warrant a higher rating than 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed psychiatric, low back, and right knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy, and there is no verified stressor for PTSD. His current diagnoses of dysthymic disorder, polysubstance dependence, and history of pedophilia were not related to his service. There is also no evidence linking his current low back or knee disabilities to his active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disorder, arthritis of both knees, circulatory problems, and cellulitis of the right leg are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected laxity of the left knee. The Board also found that these conditions were not otherwise incurred in or aggravated during active service.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the veteran's right knee injury in service and his current conditions, leading to denial of all claims.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her service-connected left leg fractures and patellofemoral syndrome, as she is already rated at 40% under Diagnostic Code 5262.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and hepatitis C. The claims were previously remanded due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a right knee, low back, or psychiatric disability related to military service and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative joint diseases of the elbows and knees. The RO continued the previous ratings.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board has found that a separate 10 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is warranted based on x-ray findings and pain with limitation of motion. No higher ratings are granted as there is no ankylosis or impairment of the tibia and fibula.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for DJD of the left knee, status post knee replacement; DJD of the right knee; a hip condition; and an inner head injury (aphasia/possible stroke). The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.