Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for each of the veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and left knee tendonitis, effective from the date of the February 2002 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The issue is whether service connection can be granted for a left knee disability as secondary to a right knee condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right great toe and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board Hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The veteran's right knee disability prior to July 26, 2005 was manifested by no instability or arthritic changes as evidenced by normal X-rays. Since July 26, 2005, the disability has been characterized by mild loosening of the medial collateral ligaments and radiographic evidence of a possible recurrent tear of the posterior horn of the medical meniscus.

The veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a right medial meniscectomy and traumatic arthritis of the right knee are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no additional compensation available under other diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disability, which is related to an injury sustained during service. Service connection was denied for wounds and scars as there is no medical evidence of current disabilities or their relationship to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and a right knee disorder, finding no current disabilities and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any present conditions and military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right tibia fracture residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all evidence.

The Board found no objective indications of a chronic undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle and joint pain. The veteran's complaints were attributed to known clinical diagnoses, such as low back strain, cervical strain, patellofemoral joint disturbance, and shoulder tendonitis.

The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and a right knee disorder, thus denying these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized by partial medial meniscectomy with chondromalacia and quadriceps tendonitis, did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. The Board also noted that there was evidence of degenerative arthritis of the left knee, which warranted a separate 10 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is primarily manifested by back pain and limitation of motion, with no evidence of ankylosis. The claim for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee, effective April 3, 2003. The earlier effective date claim is also granted.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disabilities and assigned initial ratings. However, the veteran is seeking higher ratings for his right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, skin rash due to undiagnosed illness, sleep disturbance due to undiagnosed illness, muscle and joint pain due to undiagnosed illness, and memory loss due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection based on the veteran's reported history.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, but granted increased disability ratings for PTSD and TDIU effective May 13, 1994.