Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's current knee and spine disorders did not develop during service or are otherwise related to his military service. The claim for dental disability is also denied as there is no evidence of a compensable condition.

The Board found that the veteran's left below-the-knee amputation and right ankle/leg ulcers were not caused or made worse by his service-connected weak feet with hammer toe deformities.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee injury residuals, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of flexion or extension. The Board also found no basis for separate ratings under other diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of both knees is due to his active service, including his deployment in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, right hip, and left knee disabilities. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were established as October 18, 2000.

The Board is remanding the case to verify the veteran's service connection for a right knee disability, specifically addressing whether he was on active duty training or inactive duty training in May 1981.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, a knee disability, a low back disability, an ankle disability, or a hand disability as the result of disease or injury incurred in service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right foot disability. The claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and bilateral knees are denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and osteoarthritis of the right knee. The veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and his right knee disability was first demonstrated many years after service and is not shown to be related to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee injury, postoperative does not meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation than 20 percent.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and a retroactive effective date prior to January 8, 2001.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for insomnia, a throat disorder, and a right foot disability. The remaining issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities and an initial compensable evaluation for pes planus, left foot are remanded.

The veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent for the period from October 15, 2003 through December 3, 2003 and April 1, 2004 to present.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his status post total left knee replacement, finding that the evidence did not warrant such an increase.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection, finding that his residuals of a gunshot wound of the right knee did not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent. The low back and right hip disabilities were also found to be unrelated to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the right shoulder, chronic Hepatitis C, a lumbar spine disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen the claim for degenerative changes of the right shoulder, nor was there sufficient medical evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral ankle disabilities due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for further examination.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine the extent of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to meet the requirements for financial assistance in purchasing adaptive equipment, acquiring specially adapted housing, or receiving special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The veteran's disabilities, while disabling, do not meet the criteria for a total rating due to their combined effect. The Board finds that she is not unemployable by reason of her disabilities.