Knee decisions — 2001

The veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied, but his claims for increased ratings and total disability rating based on individual unemployability were granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease with osteoarthritis of the right knee is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a left knee disability and granted service connection based on aggravation of his pre-existing condition by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation of his service-connected right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization to render impractical the application of regular schedular rating standards.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and neck disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chest tightness and a bilateral knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board dismissed the claim as the appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease warrants a 40 percent evaluation, and his postoperative residuals of a left knee medial meniscus tear warrant a 20 percent evaluation. The TDIU issue is also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for head and right knee injuries, finding that his injuries were not caused by VA treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding no current diagnosis of such a condition and noting that the veteran had not provided competent medical evidence linking his current symptoms to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for arthritis of the knees, finding no new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's appeals for a total rating under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 and § 4.30 for his hospitalization in February 1991, as well as an effective date prior to March 18, 1991, are denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a new examination. The RO will re-evaluate his service-connected right knee disability in light of the newly acquired evidence.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for post-operative residuals of right knee injury, but denied an increased evaluation. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for traumatic arthritis and painful motion of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities do not warrant a compensable rating, while his service-connected right (major) and left (minor) wrist disabilities are also rated as noncompensable.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability. The issue is currently before the Board as it pertains to reopening the original claim, not determining the merits of the service connection.

The Board denied increased evaluations for postoperative residuals of a left hip injury and postoperative residuals of a left knee injury, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 40 percent and 10 percent evaluations.

The veteran's death was due to renal failure. The appellant paid for the funeral expenses, but there were no accrued benefits as the veteran had no pending claims and no unpaid benefits at the time of his death.