Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for stress-related physiological IBS, effective October 18, 1989. The RO will arrange for the veteran to undergo orthopedic examination of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has found no medical evidence of record that would warrant a staged rating for the increased rating claim. The veteran's right knee disability was evaluated utilizing Diagnostic Code 5257, and his lumbosacral strain was evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5237 (lumbosacral strain). Both conditions were rated as non-compensably disabling.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 5, 1994 and April 30, 1996 for service connection were granted.,Effective from April 30, 1996, the veteran is entitled to a compensable disability rating for sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of cold weather injury to both feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus and current bilateral knee disability are related to service. However, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis for corneal damage with painful scar of the right eye or sinusitis. The veteran's claims for these conditions will be remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and evaluations, as well as compliance with the Veterans' Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral arthritis are related to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was reasonably related to his service-connected orthopedic disorders, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and new evidence, requiring an examination of the veteran's left knee and lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee conditions, including a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament with mild instability, iliotibial band tendonitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and plica debridement. The combined disability rating is 40 percent.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for SMP based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a new VA examination and consideration of his claim for an increased rating for synovitis, right knee, with chondromalacia of the patella.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral tracking syndrome of the right and left knees were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee conditions have been denied. The current evaluations of 10%, 20%, and 20% remain unchanged.

The veteran's service-connected left hip fracture with degenerative changes resulted in a 20% rating effective February 12, 2004. The RO also granted service connection for right hip tendonitis as secondary to the left hip fracture and assigned a 10% rating effective February 12, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and PTSD were denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease was granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a deviated nasal septum, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of competent medical evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, hypertension as secondary to service-connected pheochromocytoma, and migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected pheochromocytoma.,Reasoning: The evidence supports the veteran's claims that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his service-connected post-operative residuals of a left knee injury and traumatic arthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.