Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's left total knee arthroplasty has been rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right foot disabilities, finding no competent medical evidence showing these conditions were related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an umbilical hernia and a left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service. The claim for an increased rating for the left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and right knee disability were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee and skin cancer, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records. The issue remains whether his left knee disorder is related to service-connected right knee DJD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, bilateral knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for post-surgical residuals of left wrist fracture is granted with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the regular aid and attendance of another person, and the Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it manifested by normal range of motion with slight limitation of motion and pain.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including post-surgical residuals and degenerative joint disease, is rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and granted it. The Veteran also has been granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, status post arthroplasty.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for specially adapted housing and financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or adaptive equipment due to a lack of evidence showing loss of use of lower extremities, blindness in both eyes, or anatomical loss of use of hands.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected carpal tunnel release, left and right knee degenerative joint disease, sinusitis/rhinitis, and dyspepsia have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher disability ratings in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and her left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if there are any other conditions related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no evidence of a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, back pain secondary to PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The claim for left knee disorder was previously denied. The Veteran's increased rating claims have also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle fracture was caused by her service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence was not received. The right knee disability claim was also denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to active service or a pre-existing condition.

The Board found no current right hip or right knee disability and concluded that the Veteran's current complaints are not related to her service-connected right ankle disability. The claim for service connection was denied.