Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation on account of housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or related to his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and pleurisy (chest pain). The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, cervical spine DJD and DDD, and lumbar spine DJD and DDD, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected residuals, fracture with malunion, right femur, and degenerative joint disease, right knee, as well as his service-connected lumbar strain with fibrosis. The RO had previously denied these claims in a February 2003 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, left hip disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to her military service.

The veteran's psoriatic arthritis is rated at 10 percent for each affected joint (knees, hands, ankles, and shoulders). The right hand disability, including psoriatic arthritis and residuals of ganglion cyst, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as his combined disability evaluation is 40 percent, which does not meet the percentage requirements for consideration of a TDIU on a schedular basis. The Board finds that the objective evidence and the veteran's own statements outweigh his unsupported assertions that the service-connected conditions prevent gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral patellofemoral joint disease of the knees and entitlement to TDIU were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not show ankylosis, nonunion of the tibia and fibula with loose motion, or extension limited to 30 degrees to warrant evaluations in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left leg, knee disorder. The veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate rating for her knee conditions, sinusitis, and asthma were denied. Her service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular threshold requirements for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left inguinal hernia, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, PTSD, and shell fragment wounds of the forearm and calf. The decision was based on lack of new and material evidence for the right knee claim and insufficient evidence to support the other claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia and lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease do not warrant evaluations in excess of their current ratings.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and determined that new evidence submitted by the appellant raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, the Board found no causal link between any service-connected disability and the veteran's death.

The veteran's knee, hip, ankle, and foot disabilities are not service-connected. The Board denied the claims of service connection for left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and increased the disability ratings for right and left knee disabilities to 10 percent each. The veteran's claims for higher ratings are denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation by reason of need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.