Knee decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected instability of the right knee and left knee, as well as for osteochondral fracture with torn medial meniscus, post-operative, and traumatic arthritis of the right knee. The disability picture is consistent with the current 20 percent evaluation assigned under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that rheumatoid arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, its incurrence or aggravation during active duty may not be presumed, and it is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected disability. For traumatic arthritis of the right knee, a 20 percent rating was restored from the effective date of reduction. Separate ratings of 10 percent for limitation of flexion were granted for both knees. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for internal derangement of the left knee with instability was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to the conditions claimed, or that were incurred during active military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain and left knee disability, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee injury. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of right knee injury was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back disability and left knee disorder. The veteran's service medical records show complaints of back pain in November 1958 and an incident where he fell on his back during icy conditions in Germany. He also has a history of left knee injury at work in March 1994.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision does not specify an effective date.

The veteran's appeal was granted for a left shoulder disability, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia with limitation of flexion. The rating board also assigned separate evaluations for the right knee chondromalacia due to limitation of extension from March 10, 2004. No new evidence was presented to reopen service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for the right knee disorder to the RO for further development and consideration. The veteran's claim will be on remand to determine whether he has any instability in his right knee, which could affect his disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date for the grant of service connection for traumatic arthritis of the left knee was set at February 12, 2000.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and right knee disability, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The veteran's failure to report for VA examinations prevented the possibility of obtaining such evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee problems are not related to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right elbow arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The claim for service connection for a back disorder was also addressed, but is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right knee and left wrist disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee now rated at 20 percent. The pes planus has also been granted a compensable rating of 20 percent. However, the surgical scars from the knees continue to be rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and his low back disability is rated at 40 percent. The effective date for the increased rating of the low back disability remains to be determined.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia patella are the result of disease or injury incurred in active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, gastritis, and migraines. The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for gum disease was also denied as a matter of law.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of claims related to service connection for a left knee disorder secondary to service-connected right leg disability, an increased rating for the right leg disability, and entitlement to TDIU. The readjudicated TDIU claim will consider extra-schedular provisions.