Knee decisions — 2001

The veteran's knee disabilities, including postoperative left and right knees, degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, are currently rated at 20 percent each under Diagnostic Codes 5257 (instability) and 5261/5260 (range of motion).

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to a significant change in the law and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the appeals for higher initial evaluations were also denied. The veteran was granted a reopening of his claim for irritable bowel syndrome on new evidence.

The veteran's service-connected sinusitis is manifested by more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year, warranting a 30 percent disability evaluation.

The Board denied a request for an effective date earlier than December 15, 1998 for the grant of service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right knee. The veteran's claim was reopened in March 1999 with new and material evidence, but the effective date was assigned as March 1, 1999.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's symptomatic left knee with chondromalacia, effective from February 1, 1998.

The veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds of the left knee, left biceps and forearm with retained bodies, and left hand have been increased to a 10 percent evaluation effective June 11, 1971.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee, left knee and right hip disabilities but denied a compensable disability evaluation under 38 C.F.R. � 3.324.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The left knee disability and bilateral pes planus were also denied as there is no evidence of their onset during service.

The veteran's allergies were not service-connected, but her right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are each rated at 10 percent disabling. The veteran's headaches are noncompensably disabling.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability. The claim is now being reviewed on its merits.

The Board has restored a 20 percent rating for chondromalacia of the right knee and left knee, finding that there is sustained improvement in the appellant's bilateral knee condition.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected conditions, including left posterolateral herniated nucleus pulposus at L5 - S1, left knee meniscal tear with chronic synovitis with intra-articular effusion, and status post left thumb fracture. The RO will also consider the veteran's employment capacity due to these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for a left knee disability and an earlier effective date for PTSD due to inadequate development, including the need for a new VA examination by an orthopedist who had not previously examined him.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right first metatarsal head, chondromalacia of the right knee, and chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's right knee disorder and gastroenteritis, but denied his claims for an increased evaluation for his right shoulder disorder and a compensable evaluation for his left knee disorder. The claim to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, which includes residuals of a fractured tibial plateau with degenerative changes. The current rating reflects the veteran's complaints of pain and limitation of motion.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee, right fifth toe, and left fifth toe disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of compensable disability.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for instability as a residual of degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and a separate 10 percent rating for the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee based on x-ray findings of arthritis with limited painful motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting left knee disorder was aggravated during service, and thus service connection is granted.