Knee decisions — 2002

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's right knee replacement, effective from April 1999. The claim of service connection for left foot and left knee disorders as secondary to the right knee disorder is also granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability, which was previously denied in January 1985.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that his early post-traumatic arthritis of the knees is causally related to an injury sustained in service.,PTSD has been granted with a 50 percent rating effective December 15, 1997. The veteran's fibromyalgia was initially rated at 10 percent from September 7, 1999 to August 21, 2000 and then increased to 20 percent starting from August 22, 2000.,The veteran's hiatal hernia with acid reflux disease has been rated at 10 percent since October 18, 1999.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability, finding that the condition did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the current symptoms and medical evidence.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's postoperative medial meniscectomy of both knees, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee and shoulder conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and denied her claims for service connection. The initial rating for lumbosacral strain was also denied as there was no evidence of muscle spasm, loss of motion, or other disabling symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for the below-the-knee amputation of the right lower extremity, finding that it was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, residuals of head injury with recurrent headaches, residuals of cervical spine and thoracic spine injuries, and gastrointestinal disorder. The veteran did not have a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and the propriety of reducing his low back pain rating. The right knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent, while the low back pain was reduced from 20 to 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of otitis media, otitis externa, labyrinthitis, gastroenteritis and viral syndrome, left thumb pain, right knee disorder or left knee disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection and secondary service connection for right knee arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a direct link to his service-connected shrapnel wound residuals or any other basis for service connection.

The Board has assigned initial disability evaluations of 20 percent for traumatic arthritis of the right and left knees as of September 13, 2001. The veteran's knee disabilities are currently rated under Diagnostic Code 5257 due to moderate instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a personal hearing at the RO.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's conditions but did not grant any compensable ratings. The veteran was found to have right elbow tendonitis, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and right knee arthritis. However, he did not meet criteria for a compensable rating for his right elbow condition or his left shoulder and right knee conditions.

The appellant's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing via videoconference. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder are still under review.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee and right knee disabilities were denied. The left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, while the right knee disability remains noncompensable.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a left leg disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the October 1996 rating decision. However, the Board finds that there is no evidence showing a link between the veteran's current left leg symptoms and his in-service diagnoses or symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee, left knee, right hip, or low back disability that is related to his service-connected laceration of the right calf. As such, service connection for these disabilities cannot be granted.