Knee decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a right leg atrophy, finding no evidence of current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders were denied. The RO granted service connection for these conditions, but did not assign any specific disability ratings.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disorder was granted and rated at 10 percent disabling effective July 3, 2003. In a later decision, the rating was increased to 20 percent effective December 23, 2005.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral shoulder and foot disabilities. The petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for neck and bilateral knee conditions have been granted, allowing de novo reconsideration of these claims on the merits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and myotonia.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for elbow and knee pain, including as due to an undiagnosed illness. The Board found no objective evidence of a disability associated with the veteran's elbows and knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and a low back disorder, finding that these conditions were not related to his active military service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's residuals of a left TKR are rated at 60 percent, the maximum schedular rating.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of chronic left knee, right shoulder, and left arm disabilities that were incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current right knee disability is related to an in-service injury. The Board assigns significant weight to VA medical opinions supporting this conclusion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of the veteran's conditions. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea are also being addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee strain and found that the veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 10 percent for post traumatic arthritis of the right knee and a separate disability rating of 10 percent for left mild tibial sensorimotor neuropathy (Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome).

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as tinea cruris of the thigh and anal area, were denied. The RO assigned a 30 percent rating for the left knee effective April 1, 2005.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, claimed as secondary to the service connected right knee disorder. The veteran's representative requested an examination due to worsening of his right knee disability since the last VA examination in September 2004. Additional records from Dr. Roberts and possible future surgery on both knees were noted during the hearing. A VA orthopedic examination is needed, as well as copies of any SSA decision granting benefits and related medical evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance due to their severity and nature.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for patella and medial joint pain of the right and left knees, finding that the evidence did not warrant higher than 10 percent evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorder, depressive disorder, and increased rating for low back syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for a bilateral knee disorder or an effective date for depression. For low back syndrome, the claim was granted but at the maximum schedular evaluation.