Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's left knee arthritis is rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2006. The rating was granted for the period from January 31, 2005 to September 19, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is about restoring a 30 percent rating for her right knee disorder, which was previously reduced to 10 percent. The case has been remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional development.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee disorder, effective January 19, 2005.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and his left wrist injury is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical records, conduct VA examinations for the right knee and right hip conditions, and consider whether separate ratings are warranted based on limitation of flexion or extension.

The case is being remanded to the RO due to a secondary claim for left knee disorder related to service-connected right and left ankle disorders. The veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed left knee disorder, including whether it is related to active duty service or aggravated by other service-connected conditions.

The veteran's right knee disorder and headaches are found to be due to undiagnosed illnesses incurred during service. The tinnitus claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his herniated nucleus pulposus, L3-4 and L5-S1, and post-traumatic arthritis, left hip and left knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of any claimed conditions related to his military service, and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a back disorder secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disorders, and the right and left knee conditions did not meet criteria for higher initial ratings.,Tinnitus was also denied as there is no legal basis for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased rating and secondary service connection, finding that his right knee disability does not warrant an increase in rating or that any left foot and ankle disability is not related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the left knee, arthritis of the left and right knees were denied as there is no evidence of more than slight instability or limitation of motion in either knee.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The veteran's asthma was rated at 10 percent prior to May 14, 2002, and at 30 percent from May 15, 2002, forward.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's asthma is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of right knee, left knee, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, or skin disorders (other than scars), and therefore, his claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found no evidence of a disability due to nerve agent exposure and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The initial evaluation for his left knee disorder was also denied, with a 10 percent rating assigned effective December 1, 2003.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and right knee contusion injury, finding that neither condition warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of meniscal tear, right knee due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury and because the condition was not shown to be related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disability and therefore, secondary service connection for a left knee disability is denied. For his right knee disability, the evidence does not support an increased rating beyond the currently assigned 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's conditions do not render him permanently bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance, as he can walk unaided with the help of a cane. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the award of special monthly pension based upon the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.