Knee decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability and right Achilles tendonitis, but granted a compensable rating for his left knee arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities, arthritis of the back, and arthritis of the lower extremities (other than arthritis of the right knee) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorders, or low back disorders separate and distinct from his already service-connected disabilities. The veteran's current conditions are not causally related to active duty nor do they develop secondary to his service-connected compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula with leg shortening.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence of record linking the veteran's current left leg and knee disorders to his service or any service-connected disability, including his lumbar spine disorder. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for osteopathy and a disability of the left lower extremity, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's internal derangement of the left knee is currently rated at 20 percent, and his arthritis is rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that these ratings are not higher than what is warranted based on the evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation for traumatic arthritis, but not an increased rating due to instability or limitation of motion. The veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and lack of medical evidence, requiring further development.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiac disorder, bilateral knee disorder including arthritis, neck disorder (claimed as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, C5-C6), bilateral shoulder disorder, and upper back disorder.

The Board denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of the claimed conditions or stressors in service. The veteran's claims for PTSD and an unspecified disorder due to herbicide exposure were not supported by credible supporting evidence as required under VA regulations. Service connection was also denied for a kidney disorder, right knee disorder, left arm disorder, and chronic fever.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a compression fracture of the lumbar spine, with degenerative changes. The other claims remain denied as new and material evidence was not provided to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis in the right knee and reopened/reinstated claims for left shoulder and neck disorders. The issues of increased ratings for residuals of a right knee laceration and left hand injury, as well as an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating for the left hand disability are remanded.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for instability as a residual of a partial tear of the right medial collateral ligament of the right knee, effective from November 16, 2001. The initial 10 percent disability rating for degenerative changes of the right knee remains in place.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disorder is service-connected, but his right knee disorder is not. The low back disorder was incurred during service and there is no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the August 1990 decision is new but not material, and thus denied the request to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, wrist, shoulder, cervical spine, low back, and knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and TDIU due to his service-connected right knee, low back, and left thigh disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of increased severity in the pre-existing left knee disability during service or as a result of these service-connected conditions.

The veteran's left knee instability and DJD are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.,For right knee extension, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied as there is no evidence of limitation to 15 degrees or more.