Knee decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that the September 1985 rating decision was not final and thus could not be revised on the basis of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee and low back disorders are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disorder, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, right ankle, and right knee disorders due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for residuals of osteomyelitis of the left knee and residuals of osteoarthritis of the right hip. The remaining issues on appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected impingement syndrome of the left shoulder. The right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and arthritis (excluding the right knee) as these conditions are not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure.

The veteran's left knee disability, status post meniscectomy, with residual laxity and synovitis, was rated at 20 percent prior to December 14, 2005, and at 30 percent from that date. The right knee disability, also status post meniscectomy, with residual laxity and synovitis, was rated at 20 percent prior to September 2, 2003, and at 30 percent thereafter.,Service connection for hepatitis C was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further medical examination. The veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed to determine if it had its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative joint disease, as well as lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, were denied by the Board.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, as there is no competent evidence of such conditions associated with his active military duty. The claim for left ankle disability was previously denied but new and material evidence has not been received to reopen it.

The veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left and right knees are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support increased ratings in excess of 10 percent.,There is also no evidence of symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, which would allow for a separate evaluation under DC 5259.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and new evidence of service connection were denied. The left ear hearing loss is rated as zero percent disabling, PTSD is rated at 30 percent, recurrent right knee strain is rated at 10 percent, gastritis has no service connection, URI does not have a current onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service, left knee sprain and right ankle sprain do not have a current onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service, and right ear hearing loss is not service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection for left knee disability, left wrist disability, and cervical spine disability. The VA will also obtain a medical examination of the veteran's neck.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, and left leg disorder are denied. The evidence does not support the presumption of service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 10 percent for left knee disability, finding that the veteran's condition met the criteria for limitation of flexion without any compensable limitation of extension.

The Board denied the veteran's increased ratings claims for his service-connected left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and bilateral heel spurs due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities do not warrant higher disability evaluations based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is caused by his service-connected right knee disability and grants service connection for this condition.