Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not originate during his periods of active duty for training and therefore denied service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 60 percent since March 1, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.

Service connection was denied for a neck disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Veteran's current condition is not service-connected due to lack of medical evidence linking it to his military service.,The claim for removal of the gall bladder was also denied. There is no credible or competent evidence showing that this surgery occurred during service and there are no indications of a chronic disability resulting from any illness.

The Veteran's left knee chrondomalacia patella, status post left tibial tubercle osteotomy was not shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to July 25, 2009. From that date forward, he is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including arthritis, were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right great toe disability. The evidence did not show a nexus between the current knee conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pulmonary edema, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and other disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's low back injury with DJD resulted in marked interference with his employment as a truck driver and mechanic prior to February 20, 2007. From that date forward, the disability rendered him unable to perform these duties due to severe symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a low back disability was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 85 degrees or less, combined range of motion limited to 235 degrees or less, muscle spasm, guarding, localized tenderness, vertebral fracture, or neurological symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral leg, knee, ankle, and back disorders, as well as hypertension. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative residuals of right knee degenerative joint disease and scars, right knee instability, and right hip strain have been granted with a rating of 30 percent effective from September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-replacement surgery, has not met the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent from December 1, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone were not of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment between January 7, 2010 and March 4, 2011.

The Board denied a compensable rating for right eyebrow scars and found no current left knee disability. The claim for service connection for blurred vision in the right eye was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, right eye blurred vision (previously denied), skin rash on arms, shoulders, back, and legs, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and a left eye pterygium.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and status-post arthroscopic meniscectomy, based on the Veteran's in-service injury during combat service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and left hand disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, with the exception of a 20 percent rating being granted for residuals of left shoulder sprain effective January 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected and his left knee disability does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has denied service connection for visual changes, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, fatigue, sinus disorder, gastroenteritis, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shin splints, right shin splints, left heel spurs, right heel spurs, left flat foot, and right flat foot. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, and right foot condition due to his withdrawal of these claims prior to the promulgation of a decision.