Knee decisions — 2008

The VA denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee arthritis, finding that the evidence did not show actual limitation of extension or flexion to a level warranting a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his combined total disability rating is 40 percent. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and right hip disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service or any other presumptive exposure basis. The Board also found insufficient new and material evidence to reopen the claim for right hip disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression and skin disabilities, were denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or for many years after service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The Board has granted the veteran increased ratings of 10 percent for his right knee post-patellar tendon wedge resection and left ankle post-osteophyles chondral lesion debridgement, effective from March 29, 2007. The other issues remain denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee condition, post-reconstruction surgery, does not warrant a rating higher than 0 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee synovitis, left metacarpal fracture, lumbosacral spine degenerative changes, and right eye orbital zygomaticomaxillary fracture with coronal rupture. The RO initially assigned a 10 percent rating for the lumbosacral spine disability and zero percent (i.e., noncompensable) evaluations for the other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a left knee disability during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and left knee, but denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and assigned a noncompensable rating, effective December 30, 2002. The veteran's right knee disability was not found to be related to his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his previously denied service connection claims for arthritis of the leg joints and shoulders. The low back disability and emphysema issues were not addressed in this decision.

The Board finds that the evidence does not show a current disability of the right ankle, low back, left knee, or sinus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus with bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and ulcers of right foot, blindness of the left eye, shrapnel wounds to the right side of body, a cyst, and residuals of a collapsed lung, are not supported by evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated during active military service. The veteran's claims for reopening his right knee disability claim have also been denied.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current right knee disability to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's current left knee disability. The RO will also attempt to obtain a record of his periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA).

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected De Quervain's tenosynovitis of the right and left wrists, as well as chondromalacia of the left knee, have been denied. The evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle, low back, and bilateral hip disabilities are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the right knee, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right knee disability, calluses on both feet, or bilateral onychomycosis of the toenails. The veteran's complaints have not been substantiated by medical records and she does not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.