Knee decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his right ankle disability have been denied. The Board found no current left or bilateral knee disabilities, and the evidence did not support a finding that any diagnosed conditions were related to service or secondary to his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current knee and hand conditions are not related to cold weather exposure during service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, with no more than active and passive ranges of motion of 95 degrees and 90 degrees respectively. The Board finds that the current evaluations are appropriate given the findings of minimal hypertrophic arthritic changes and no joint instability.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service or related to a service-connected condition, resulting in denial of service connection. Increased ratings were granted for the left shoulder and post-traumatic arthritis of the left knee but not for internal derangement of the left knee.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound injury to the left knee involving arthritis is denied. His claims for increased ratings for chronic lumbar strain and TDIU are also denied.

The veteran was awarded special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance effective May 25, 2000. The effective date is being upheld as it meets the criteria established by VA regulations.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back disability, pyrosis with reflux symptoms, and right knee disability were denied. The RO found that the schedular criteria for these conditions did not meet the requirements for higher ratings.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left knee disability is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need to obtain additional relevant treatment records.

The veteran's left hip disorder is related to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed right hip disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of psychiatric disorder, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder, all claimed as secondary to service-connected left ankle Achilles tendonitis.

The veteran's production costs for $4,200 in supplements were not considered necessary to begin operations as a self-employed herbal retailer.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a back condition, claimed as secondary to his right knee condition, is remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and proper VCAA notice.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left biceps disorder, and left knee disorder. The remaining issues of fibrocystic breast disease and residuals of cryosurgery or colposcopy of the cervix are remanded for further development.

The veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, including depression, peptic ulcer disease with gastritis, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, a low back disorder, dermatitis, seizure disorder, and hypertension. The veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to military service.