Knee decisions — 2001

The veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to February 22, 1996.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cystic acne, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The veteran's PTSD was reopened on new evidence, but the claim is pending further development.

The Board is unable to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions, as well as their relationship to his service-connected condition. The issues are therefore considered mixed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of both knees was denied. The claim for increased rating for major depressive disorder was partially granted, with a 50% rating effective from June 8, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee condition, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and schizophrenia.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for postoperative residuals of a right ankle fracture with ankylosis, effective from the date of the claim. The left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent prior to September 27, 1999 and 20 percent as of December 1, 2000.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right or left knee disorder during service, and the current knee disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee anterior cruciate ligament repair is manifested by no more than slight impairment due to subluxation or instability and intermittent swelling of the right knee resulting in additional functional impairment equivalent to slight loss of motion. Therefore, an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for this condition was not warranted.

The veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are rated based on their specific conditions, with the right knee receiving a separate rating for arthritis. The low back disability is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, as his service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria set forth in the applicable regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, bilateral vision disability, and left hand deformity with a missing fifth finger. The appeals regarding entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease with hypertension were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's above the left knee amputation is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of gunshot wounds of the left thigh and leg, granting secondary service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a left knee disability as demonstrated by objective findings and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during or as a result of active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and low back strain, but granted an increased evaluation of 30% for the veteran's left leg disability prior to March 28, 2001.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully adjudicate the veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disorder. The claims file must be updated by obtaining all relevant medical records, verifying the veteran's service dates, and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative left knee disability, characterized by instability and genu valgus deformity, does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.