Knee decisions — 2001

The VA has denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee replacement, finding that the current 30 percent disability rating adequately reflects his symptoms and functional limitations.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected right knee fracture, plantar warts of both feet, and fractured right scapula and clavicle disabilities due to a lack of timely filed substantive appeal.

The veteran's appeal is denied as there is no evidence of a valid claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right and left knee disabilities.

The veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection were dismissed as no adequate substantive appeal was filed within the required time frame.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a skull fracture with headaches, and residuals of a right knee injury. The appeals were based on new evidence submitted after previous denials.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent was not warranted prior to April 7, 1998. From October 1, 1998 onwards, the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for her 20% and 30% ratings for left knee disability and migraine headaches, respectively. The veteran was granted a June 26, 1996 effective date for her 20% rating for left knee fracture but not for her migraine headaches.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment as of May 22, 1997. The effective date for the TDIU rating is set at this date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including a low back disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability. The RO granted service connection for left distal fibula fracture and closed reduction and external fixation tibia fracture with iliac crest bone graft, but denied other requested benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist, bilateral knee, and right ankle disabilities. The lipoma of the right costal margin is not considered disabling.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and PTSD, as well as his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability. The appeals were not about service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability, which includes traumatic arthritis and a history of instability, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's application for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of evidence showing service-connected disability that meets the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized as osteoarthrosis, warrants a 20 percent evaluation. The evidence shows significant pain and limited motion in both knees, but no instability or severe impairment.

The Board has denied the reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and back conditions due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board granted service connection for carcinoma of the lung, status post lobectomy and radiation with a 30 percent evaluation. The claim for intermittent left knee strain was also granted but assigned a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board denied increased evaluations for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either version of the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for low back pain and bilateral knee disorders due to lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal. The RO assigned a 10 percent rating for mechanical low back pain effective June 13, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting left knee condition, including a torn medial meniscus and patellar mal-alignment, did not increase in severity or worsen during her active duty service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected mechanical low back pain warrants a 10% disability rating since her separation from active military service.,Similarly, the residuals of a stress fracture of the left knee are rated at 10%, also since her separation from active military service.