Knee decisions — 2006

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed residuals of burns to his right leg, knee, and hand were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The evidence does not show any current diagnosis of such conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and denied all other issues on appeal. The Board found that new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim, but did not find any direct or secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and an increased evaluation for postoperative osteochondritis dessicans, left knee. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for arthritis of the right hip was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD, right knee disability, tremors, and COPD were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claims for PTSD and tremors were denied due to lack of verified stressors, while the claim for COPD was denied as it did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under the Persian Gulf War presumption.

The veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right and left knees has been productive of painful motion, but no additional functional loss due to weakness or pain. The RO denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's headaches, varicose veins of the left leg, right knee disability, and fibromyalgia were not incurred in or related to her active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied the claim.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for degenerative changes in the right ankle joint.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right foot disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking the appellant's reported symptoms to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left ankle and left knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA disability rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder and low back disorder are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability and did not grant a TDIU. The current rating of 30% is based on limitation of motion, with extension to 0 degrees and flexion limited to 100 degrees.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral otitis externa and left knee disorder remains denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability, residuals of a right great toe fracture, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and information regarding private medical treatment.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated at 10 percent based on arthritis with painful motion and slight instability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for his left knee and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic acquired left ankle disorder or any other condition related to his service-connected left knee disability. The evaluation for his left knee was also found not to warrant an increase beyond 10 percent.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.