Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his skin condition of the feet with hyperkeratotic toenails and calluses is also rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are currently rated as they were initially granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left hip disability and his right shoulder disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disability.,The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for right knee, low back, and headaches were all denied as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has granted an initial 20% evaluation for osteoarthritis of the left knee, effective from June 2002. The veteran's low back pain and hypertension are currently evaluated at 10%. No further increase in these evaluations is warranted.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's bilateral knee disorders to his service, specifically his qualifying period from January 12, 1973 to January 11, 1976. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for left knee disability, service connection for right arm and hand disability, and service connection for cervical disc disease. The decision found that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms post-service to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the hands, elbows, left shoulder, and left knee; tinnitus; coronary artery disease; and hypertension have all been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right or left knee injury in service, and the current disorders are not related to service. The claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for right knee chondromalacia patella and a higher initial evaluation for PTSD.,For the right knee, the evidence did not show limitation of flexion to 15 degrees or extension to 10 degrees, so no additional compensation was granted.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as his claim for degenerative disc disease of the spine. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current asthma, shortness of breath, and allergies to asbestos exposure during service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability existed prior to service and did not permanently increase in severity during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's right knee disorder, postoperative, is rated at 10 percent disabling due to limitation of motion. The left knee disorder remains pending as the appeal for service connection has been remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disorder as secondary to a service-connected right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and an eye disorder. The claim for reopening a back disorder was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, left leg disability (including below-the-knee amputation), and lung disability. The left leg disability is related to in-service cold injury residuals.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and thus his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disability were denied. The claim to reopen a right knee disorder was also denied.

The veteran's knee condition and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were evaluated, with the knee receiving a 10% rating and the lumbar spine receiving a separate 10% rating.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury is denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, specifically arthritis, is related to his in-service injury and thus service connection is granted.