Knee decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The RO has granted separate ratings of 10 percent for limitation of flexion and 20 percent for limitation of extension of the right knee, effective October 19, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of both knees and residuals of lumbar spine surgery with degenerative joint disease at L5-S1, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spondylosis with DDD, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral foot degenerative arthritis. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal involving an increased evaluation for left foot injury with traumatic osteoarthritis has been withdrawn. The case of his right knee disorder is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for total left knee replacement and lumbar degenerative joint disease, finding that these conditions were not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis, did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent. The evidence did not show limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, limitation of extension greater than 15 degrees, or significant instability or recurrent subluxation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to incomplete records and needs further examination. The case is being remanded.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right wrist disability and TDIU prior to November 23, 2004 were denied. His claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral knee disability or pitting edema that is related to service. The veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin cancer, and bilateral knee disability, were not incurred or aggravated by his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board found that a chronic right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The veteran's current right knee disability is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, non-service connected pension benefits, and special monthly pension by reason of being in need of the aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound. The veteran does not have a single permanent disability rated as 100 percent disabling, nor do his disabilities render him incapable of following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities of degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and lumbar disc disease are not related to service. The VA examiner found no evidence of an actual injury or disability during service and noted a lack of abnormalities on separation examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 30, 1996 for the assignment of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied a claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chrondromalacia of the left knee. The case is now being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left knee replacement is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the date of surgery. The current rating is 10 percent, and a higher one may be warranted if the surgery occurred within the first year post-prosthesis implantation.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, finding that the veteran's current knee problems are related to his in-service injuries.