Knee decisions — 2006

The veteran's right knee patellofemoral and medial compartment DJD warrants a 20 percent rating effective November 15, 2002. The back injury and fracture of the right heel with postoperative heel spur and arthralgia do not warrant increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his in-service complaints and therefore, service connection for mitral valve prolapse, left hamstring injury, right shoulder disability, left knee disability (including degenerative joint disease), thoracic scoliosis, or left great toe arthritis is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right knee disorder, which is currently rated at 30 percent. The issue remains unresolved.

The Board found that the appellant's left and right knee injuries during his active duty for training were acute and transitory, resolving without residual disability. Therefore, a bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic bronchitis, and a low back disorder. The claim for service connection of a left knee disorder secondary to the service-connected residuals of left tibia and fibula fracture is pending.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, shivers, memory loss, prostate disability (benign prostatic hypertrophy), chronic rhinorrhea, high blood pressure, and glaucoma with vision loss.,Service connection is granted for arthritis of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, residuals of a right ankle sprain, left ankle disability, or bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees that are related to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The RO must address these issues under both the old and current rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic post-operative left knee disorder, chronic bilateral hearing loss disability, and chronic bilateral tinnitus. The evidence did not support these claims as they were not shown to have originated during active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left hip disability and therefore denied her claim of service connection for this condition. The right knee disability claim is pending further development.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of cervical and lumbar spine disorders, bilateral knee arthritis, or residuals of bilateral hamstring injuries related to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's preexisting left knee injury was aggravated by his service, and for obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's service and his development of bilateral knee arthritis, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for his left knee disability and an earlier effective date are also addressed.

The Board found that the veteran's low back, bilateral hip, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee disability. The psychiatric disability (Major Depression) is considered a separate issue from the service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for fibromyalgia was also denied.

The veteran's claims for initial and increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The RO found that the residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right knee do not warrant a compensable rating, and the scars on the scalp with retained metal fragments are rated as non-service connected.

The veteran was not in receipt of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death. Therefore, the appellant is not eligible for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.