Knee decisions — 2002

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection on all issues due to the appellant's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disability and denied reopening of his right knee disability claim. The right knee disability was also not shown to be related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's left knee disability, characterized by posttraumatic chondromalacia and a benign cystic lesion of the proximal tibia, was rated at 20 percent effective from October 1, 1997.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted. The claim is now considered on its merits, with the conclusion that the current right knee disability is related to an injury sustained during active duty.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's left knee excision, medial meniscus with traumatic arthritis. The temporary total rating for convalescence following left knee surgery is not addressed as it was not appealed.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability, which includes a total knee replacement and associated loss of use of the left foot, now prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disorder, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective from February 1, 1997.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from performing substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible level of 100 percent, his right knee disability at 40 percent, and his right ankle disability remains at its initial assigned rating of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting right knee disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's right knee disorder, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for his service-connected chondromalacia of both knees, effective from August 5, 1990.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee and instability of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent or a separate compensable rating.

The Board has granted a regulatory total 100 percent evaluation for one year following the implantation of prosthesis on March 24, 2000 for right knee replacement due to service-connected post-traumatic hypertrophic and degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence prior to December 16, 1996 due to the use of a brace not approximating immobilization by cast.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the left knee from August 24, 1992 to February 6, 1996 and denied an increased rating thereafter. The issue of service connection for a back disorder secondary to service-connected left knee disability is pending.

The Board denied an increased rating for Pellegrine Stieda disease of the left knee and did not address service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to lack of development.

The veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The RO denied increased evaluations for her knees and did not reopen her previously denied claims for bilateral hip and ankle disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and secondary service connection, as well as a claim for increased evaluations for left knee disabilities. The veteran's claims will be held in abeyance until completion of the requested actions.