Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for more severe ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, hypertension as 10 percent disabling, lumbar strain also at 10 percent, and the other conditions are not found to be related to active service.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO granted service connection and assigned initial evaluations, but the veteran withdrew his appeal regarding PTSD. His other claims for increased evaluations were not supported by evidence showing that his hip, knee, or elbow conditions warranted higher ratings.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's right knee disability to his service-connected low back disability or any remote incident of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and chronic left knee strain. The evidence did not establish current disability in any of these conditions, and there was no medical opinion linking them to service.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee in February 1977, finding that it pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. The veteran is now seeking to have this decision revised due to alleged clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found no current right knee disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a current left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and post-operative residuals of a left elbow injury were denied as they are not well grounded.

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

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his impairment of the right sciatic nerve is also rated at 20 percent. The left knee disability does not warrant a separate rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability was incurred in active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from a left ankle disability or bilateral knee disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, tinnitus, respiratory issues, erectile dysfunction, and PTSD. The reasons were that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the available records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of compensable right knee disability or service connection for low back condition, asthma, migraine, or razor bumps.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is related to his in-service injury, and service connection for residuals of left knee dislocation is granted.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current left knee or left hip disabilities to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of an etiological relationship between osteoarthritis of the right knee and military service, thus denying the appellant's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected thoracic spine and right knee disabilities, as well as a claim for an increased evaluation for a compression fracture of L1. The case is to be reviewed after these issues are addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination to evaluate the veteran's claimed back and knee disorders. The claims will be reconsidered in light of this additional evidence.