Knee decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, hypertension, and left knee disorder as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot neuroma, left leg disability, and left leg disability (including left knee) are not related to his service-connected back disability. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current heart condition, urinary tract condition, groin condition, right knee condition, or right leg condition related to service. The veteran's tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) were aggravated by service, while his hearing loss was not shown to be due to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral toe, elbow, and knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability during or within one year after service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and left/right knee disorders due to a lack of current diagnoses, as well as insufficient evidence supporting the claimed stressors. The issues regarding reopening the claims were also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, knee, breast cancer, and thyroid disabilities were denied. The RO also found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in a February 1998 rating decision regarding PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to September 11, 2007.

The veteran's left knee arthritis is manifested by slight instability, pain, and weather-related flare-ups. The Board granted a disability rating of 10 percent for this condition.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for bronchitis, left testicle hydrocele, a left thigh disability, and left knee prepatellar bursitis have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by his representative. The claims for herpes simplex, residuals of a L5 fracture, and right shoulder bursitis are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and examination to determine the current severity of his hypertension and right knee disabilities. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a hand or foot is being remanded due to the need for an examination to determine if his service-connected PTSD with pain disorder and associated psychologic factors results in current loss of use of a hand or foot.

The Board has determined that the appellant meets the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to permanent impairment of vision in both eyes resulting from service-connected glaucoma.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral knee disability (claimed as osteoarthritis of the knees), bilateral hand disability (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome), and cervical spine disability (claimed as C3-C6 spondylosis), were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection were granted, but the underlying claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities played a material causal role in his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left and right knee disorders are not a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service. The Board also found no evidence to support presumptive service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left tibia warrants a 20 percent rating, and his chondromalacia patella of the right knee warrants an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent. However, both conditions are currently rated based on their direct service connection without any additional factors like exposure to specific hazards.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have disability of the feet, knees, hips, or back that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for synovitis of the right knee has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The issue of service connection for right knee tendonitis is remanded due to insufficient evidence.