Knee decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and a bilateral knee condition, finding no current disability due to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings due to further development of the evidence being needed.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) because the veteran was not found to be unable to work prior to July 3, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of rubella, a bilateral foot disorder manifested by bilateral pes planus and hallux valgus, or a right knee disorder. The anxiety disorder is also denied as there is no link to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficiently severe to meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. His left wrist disability is not shown to be related to his military service, while his elbow and tibia disabilities are currently rated as they should be based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for service-connected arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 20 percent.

The veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluations and records, as well as VCAA compliance.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disorder, as well as whether it is related to service. The appellant's Social Security Administration records should also be obtained for review.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed low back disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The increased ratings for chondromalacia of the right knee and psoriasiform dermatitis are also denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ankle sprain, left ankle disorder, and bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The veteran's claims for asbestos exposure have been denied due to lack of evidence of current asbestos-related disease or disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle contracture and right knee patellofemoral syndrome as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture of the right tibia. The claim for increased disability evaluation for strain and myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles is also granted, with a 10% rating effective May 23, 2003. The compensable rating for superficial scar on the right inferior knee is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee chondromalacia does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee arthritis is etiologically related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disability, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss were all granted. The left knee disability is rated at 20 percent since September 16, 1997, with the highest rating allowed under VA regulations.

The veteran's spinal stenosis is granted as secondary to his service-connected right leg disorder. The issue of left knee disorder with surgical scar remains pending, and the initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are also pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for right and left knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease, finding that the criteria were not met for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease from October 7, 1993 to January 15, 2003, and as 30 percent disabling on and after January 16, 2003. The veteran was also denied a compensable evaluation for conjunctival cyst of the left eye.