Knee Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral defective hearing and degenerative joint disease of the right knee were denied. The veteran currently has Level I hearing in both ears, consistent with a noncompensable evaluation. His right knee disability is currently productive of moderate impairment, as demonstrated by irregularity in the patellofemoral joint, accompanied by mild to moderate osteoarthrosis and medial joint space narrowing.

The veteran does not have any current disability in his knees, feet, or legs that can be attributed to service. The Board has determined that the veteran's complaints of knee pain are more likely related to overuse rather than a service-connected right shoulder disorder.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the veteran's scar, right thigh, did not warrant a higher disability evaluation, his right knee impairment was not related to his service-connected scar, and his service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his low back disability, right foot disability, right knee disability, and left thigh and knee disability. The reasons were that the veteran's low back disabilities did not stem from his shell fragment wound residuals, and there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following active duty. The veteran's current disabilities are attributed to a workplace injury in 1987.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to lack of evidence of current disability, and the failure to report for multiple VA examinations.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella of the left knee, finding that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The VA has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right knee post-operative residuals, which includes arthritis and limited motion. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the propriety of the initial evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee disabilities, finding that the disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent for the period from March 4, 1993 to February 9, 1999 and 30 percent for the period starting April 1, 2000.

The Board has found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of left knee injury, status post total knee replacement, do not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for degenerative arthritis, left knee and service connection for depression. The veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a schedular evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The claim for service connection for depression was also denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no objective evidence of a verified in-service stressor. The left knee disability claims were also denied, with the denial being due to lack of objective evidence supporting the need for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 23, 1993 for service connection of his right knee, hip, and shoulder disorders secondary to a service-connected left knee disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that his pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, which includes a history of meniscectomy and degenerative arthritis, warrants a rating of 30 percent. This decision grants the higher rating but does not exceed the maximum available benefit.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from April 1, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his knee, shoulder, and back conditions. The deviated nasal septum was found to be developmental in nature and not related to service. The degenerative joint diseases were evaluated at 10% each.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral knee condition due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various knee and foot disorders have been denied. The Board found no current right eye growth disorder, but diagnosed patellofemoral syndrome with chondromalacia in both knees and a ganglion cyst of the left first tendon.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and separate ratings for his knee disabilities, as well as for arthritis of the elbows, shoulders, and hips. The decision also noted that no X-rays were taken of these joints.