Knee decisions — 2006

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, effective August 16, 2005. The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is manifested by slight to moderate instability and limitation of motion (flexion limited to 75 degrees).

The veteran's claims for service connection for cysts, arthritis of the cervical spine, polyarthritis of hands, knees, elbows, and feet (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis), and hepatitis C have been denied. The veteran is also not entitled to an increased evaluation for his service-connected duodenal ulcer disease.

The veteran's appeal of his claims for increased ratings for hypertension and left knee disability prior to August 10, 2001, has been withdrawn. The claim for an increased rating for the left knee disability is remanded for additional development.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, but did find mild degenerative arthritis warranting a separate 10% evaluation.

The Board found no current right knee disability and concluded that the veteran's symptoms are not related to his in-service injury. Therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and left knee disabilities as secondary to the appellant's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and left knee strain do not warrant ratings in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of severe or pronounced deformity or swelling on use. The veteran's conditions are rated based on symptoms reflecting degenerative arthritis.

The veteran's left knee disability, both prior to July 19, 2001 and from September 1, 2002, has been evaluated as 30 percent disabling. The current rating is appropriate given the lack of functional limitations or severe painful motion/weakness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis and increased evaluations for residuals of left ulnar nerve anterior transposition, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee. The veteran was not diagnosed with tuberculosis and his disabilities were found to be less severe than what would warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and for various other conditions, finding no current diagnoses of these disorders in the record. The appeals to reopen claims for hypertension, joint disease, back disorder, knee disorders, gout, left thumb disability, left leg disorder, and skin disorder were also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral knee, hip, and foot nerve conditions to her service-connected musculoskeletal low back condition.

The veteran's initial ratings for his right knee and shoulder disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for the right knee prior to May 30, 2002 or any higher rating thereafter. For the shoulder disability, there was no showing of instability warranting separate compensation under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The veteran is seeking service connection for headaches and knee/arm pain, which he attributes to his military service in the Persian Gulf. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hand disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral eye disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his right knee disability and PTSD. The RO needs to ensure proper notice has been provided, obtain all relevant medical records, and schedule VA examinations for the veteran.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's right knee chondromalacia, postoperative arthroscopy does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, and emphysema and pneumonia as a result of exposure to asbestos. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ear hearing loss, right knee post-traumatic exostosis, and right knee osteoarthritis were denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The VA denied increased ratings for the appellant's bilateral knee disabilities, assigning a single 10 percent evaluation effective May 21, 2001. The case was remanded and subsequently returned to the Board.