Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left ankle, right knee, or depression that is attributable to military service. The veteran's claimed disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and low back disability were denied. The skin disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

Throughout the rating period on appeal, the veteran's left knee arthritis, status post meniscectomy, has been manifested by complaints of pain and buckling. Clinical examination revealed mild degenerative joint disease and mild osteoarthritis with no swelling or locking.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee condition and also denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The RO continued the current 10 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, but did not grant service connection for any lumbar spine issue.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee with chondromalacia and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective as of the date the claim was received. The veteran continues to appeal for higher evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for his claimed bilateral knee, left hip, and cervical spine disabilities. The hypertension claim was denied as there were no diastolic pressures predominantly 110 or higher.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability since March 27, 2008. The condition is currently rated under DC 5261 due to limitation of extension.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration disability file. The veteran is also required to be scheduled for a VA examination of his right knee.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome, lumbar spine disability, COPD, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of chronicity for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee, right ankle, or right foot condition that is service-connected. The evidence shows that her current conditions are related to injuries she sustained after separation from active duty.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left knee disability rated at 60 percent disabling; residuals of a neck disability rated at 10 percent disabling; COPD rated at 10 percent disabling and residuals of a nose fracture rated noncompensable, render the veteran unemployable. The Board finds that entitlement to individual unemployability is warranted.

The veteran's Reiter's syndrome, right foot associated with Reiter's syndrome, right knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's Reiter's syndrome, left foot associated with Reiter's syndrome, left knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, right shoulder associated with Reiter's syndrome, left shoulder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, left shoulder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service connected Reiter's syndrome, right wrist associated with Reiter's syndrome, left shoulder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, right knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, left knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia and residuals of a left knee strain, but granted an initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids.

The Board denied service connection for hip, knee, foot, ankle, hand, and left shoulder disorders. The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disorder is related to his military service in Korea.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied in September 1994 and is not reopened.,The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic-stress-disorder was last denied in April 2002, but is now reopened with the submission of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and conducting an examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss and shell fragment wound, left thigh and knee.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a recurrent ganglion cyst of the right wrist and hemorrhoids, were denied. The Board found that the veteran had pre-existing conditions prior to his active duty service and did not show any aggravation during service.