Knee decisions — 2001

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, and bilateral hip disability are also being reviewed.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for his left knee disability, which was previously rated as 10 percent.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation of 60 percent for left total knee replacement and remanded the issue of service connection for disability of the right knee, to include as secondary to service-connected left total knee replacement.

The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, effective November 1, 1994. The issue of service connection for left knee disability was not addressed as it is not currently present.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted in relation to his claims, and thus denied all of the service connection claims.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of record showing a current left knee disability. The veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee medial meniscus tear was not granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee scars and has denied an increased rating for his pneumothorax with fractured ribs. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for an extension of a temporary total disability rating for convalescence from surgical treatment for his left knee disability and increased ratings for his right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran's lung disability claim was not addressed as it is related to a new claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, PTSD, and SFWs of the thighs were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of service connection or an increased rating.

The veteran's claim for retroactive payment of clothing allowance benefits is denied as the law does not provide for such payments prior to August 1997.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, but the effective date remains December 20, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected osteoarthritis conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was already assigned.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current left knee and abdominal disabilities are not related to service, but rather were caused by a postservice logging mishap. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further action, including consideration of new evidence and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including the veteran's left knee replacement and right knee lateral meniscectomy with arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder condition, left knee disability, and right knee disability are service-connected. However, the right wrist disability is not considered a current disability for VA compensation purposes.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an increased evaluation of his right knee arthroscopy disability. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee, as manifested by pain and limitation of motion. The claim for an increased rating for instability is denied.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the veteran's right knee disorder, effective December 22, 1994.