Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that there is no current disability of the knees, and thus service connection for a knee disability cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint arthralgias, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), allergic rhinitis, and urinary tract infection (UTI) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied an increased rating for symptomatic loss of semilunar cartilage of the left knee, maintaining a 10 percent evaluation.

The VA denied increased ratings for the veteran's left knee disorders, finding that his conditions did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent for ACL reconstruction and 10 percent for osteoarthritis.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing such condition in active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the etiology of the veteran's left wrist, low back, and right knee disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the condition is currently characterized by minimal degenerative changes and no evidence of instability or other disabling conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy, respiratory disorder, skin disorder, arthritis of the hands with joint pain, hyperopia and presbyopia (claimed as vision problems), bilateral knee pain, back pain, and hypertension were denied. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for service connection for Bell's palsy and internal derangement of the left knee, but denied his claims for vision impairment and lung condition. The decision is pending on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability (thoracic/lumbar spine somatic dysfunction) and denied an initial compensable rating for the veteran's left knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee symptomatology is commensurate with a 40 percent disability rating, which aligns with the current 20% rating but includes additional findings of degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disorders, a low back disorder, and a left knee disorder. The decision also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen her previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased evaluation for his left knee disability and service connection for his right knee disability. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the right knee disability to military service or the left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right leg disorders were denied, as the evidence did not show a link to his military service or any service-connected disability. The certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant was also denied.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back, right knee, left knee, or psychiatric disabilities to his active service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board denied a rating greater than 30 percent for residuals of right knee injury, status post total arthroplasty from December 1, 1998.