Knee decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a bilateral knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ankle disorder or left knee disorder related to his military service.,Service connection for residuals of a scaphoid fracture of the left wrist was granted, but with a noncompensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disorder, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and lumbar spine disability are all granted. The left knee disability is also granted with a higher initial evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee condition is rated as 10 percent disabling, while the lumbar spine disability is rated as 20 percent disabling under old criteria (now reclassified to 5243). Right knee disability was not found to be related to active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic maxillary sinusitis and right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability, service connection for a right knee disorder, and TDIU. The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5243 effective September 26, 2003. His right knee disorder was not shown to be related to active duty service.

The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been granted. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hip, knee, or ankle conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee instability and arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for instability or 10 percent for arthritis.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 19, 2003, for a 10 percent rating for sinusitis is granted. His other claims are either denied or continue to be pending based on the evidence currently available.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference personal hearing for the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, effective from January 25, 2005. The veteran's depression is not related to a service-connected disability, and his left wrist, hip, and knee disabilities are not shown to be caused by or aggravated by service or a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart condition and left knee condition were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding no medical evidence linking the current arthritis to his inservice cellulitis infection.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is not rated higher than 40 percent, and his right knee strain with arthritis does not meet the criteria for service connection.