Knee decisions — 2001

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee injury due to new medical evidence showing a current disability and its relationship to his in-service injury. However, the evidence does not establish that the current disability is causally related to the in-service injury.

The veteran's claim for service connection for back, hip and knee disabilities is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical evidence and consider whether there are any outstanding service medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee condition and arthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by her service, nor could they be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for increased ratings for sarcoidosis and foot disability was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating for tinnitus and an increased disability rating for residuals of a left knee injury with a history of subluxation due to untimely filing of substantive appeals.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right knee injury and did not address his claim for service connection of a right ankle injury.

The VA has granted the veteran's claims for service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating for each knee, effective November 1997. The right knee is currently rated at 10 percent due to slight limitation of motion, while the left knee also receives this same rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased evaluation of his service-connected left knee disability, finding that the most recent treatment records supporting the increase were dated July 22, 1999.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected scar of the right knee and traumatic deformity of the patella, finding that the disability picture did not meet criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for post-operative residuals of meniscectomy with arthritis of both knees, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion or painful motion.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the knees is rated at 10 percent, and her residuals of left and right femoral stress fractures are each rated at 10 percent. The stress fracture of the right medial tibial plateau does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, status post right knee meniscus tear, and residuals of a bone chip in the right hip. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder (poison ivy dermatitis), dental trauma, respiratory disorders, and other conditions.

The veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia has been reclassified as degenerative joint disease and rated at 10 percent since June 10, 1997. The instability of the left knee is also rated at 10 percent effective from that date. His right fourth toe injury remains noncompensable.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned for hypertension.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the earliest effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability is September 21, 1998. This decision was made after considering the facts found and the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found new and material evidence to warrant reopening the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee condition. The RO will need to review the claims file again, considering all submitted evidence, including the 1999 VA examination report.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and increased ratings for her knee disabilities. The issues were remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder due to the lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, finding that the criteria for a compensable evaluation had not been met.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis with left total knee arthroplasty is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical evidence and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.