Knee decisions — 2002

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for scheduling a hearing before a traveling Member of the Board. The claims related to service connection and disability ratings are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder did not develop during service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's residuals of a total right knee arthroplasty meet the criteria for a 60 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a back injury are rated at 50 percent, effective November 1995. His service-connected residuals of a right knee injury are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, and denied the claim. The Board also determined that depression was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 10 percent for the service-connected arthritis of both the right and left knees, effective from October 20, 1994.

The veteran's low back strain and left knee arthritis are rated at 10 percent each, with the Board granting increased ratings to 20 percent for both conditions.

The Board finds that the appellant's left knee disability, diagnosed as internal derangement with a torn medial meniscus and arthritis, is likely attributable to his period of military service.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU based on secondary service connection for bilateral pes planus, degenerative changes in feet and knees, back, and hip problems is also pending.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disability, finding that it was aggravated by his duties as a cargo handler during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, ventral hernia, pes planus, inguinal hernia, and cervical spine disorder. The reasons were that there was no evidence of these conditions being incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of right knee injury, status post anterior cruciate reconstruction. The rating for chondromalacia of the right knee remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease of both knees, finding that the current range of motion and lack of instability do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a neurological disability of the right hand.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The evidence submitted did not present new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a failure to honor his request for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for arthritis and instability of the left knee are now before the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder, characterized by post-operative residuals of an arthroscopic surgery with x-ray evidence of degenerative changes and pain on motion, warrants a separate compensable (10 percent) evaluation for status post injury and arthroscopy of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulders, low back pain, right hip pain, right knee pain, and right ankle pain as secondary to service-connected amputation.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The rating for residuals of a fracture of the left ankle, with tibial and medial nerve involvement, remains at 20 percent.