Knee decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee condition is not related to his service, specifically noting that any arthritis from rheumatic fever during service has completely healed and does not lead to long-term sequelae.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative meniscectomy of the right knee with degenerative joint disease warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, nor is he unemployable as a result of his service-connected disabilities alone.

The VA determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities do not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder and degenerative changes of the cervical spine are related to service, with no other basis for connection provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his service, and therefore, denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the current 30 percent evaluation for the right knee disability is appropriate, considering the functional limitations due to pain during flare-ups and increased use.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of the right knee, including severe instability, warrant a 30 percent rating.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, which was previously denied in March 1998. The claim is now reopened.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee residuals of ligamentous injury do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as it does not result in moderate or severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disorder or ganglion cyst of the left wrist, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a grant of TDIU prior to March 5, 2001. The effective date is set at March 5, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and contusions and episodic joint pain of the elbows and knees, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected myoclonic epilepsy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for back disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim for back disability. The Board also found no current evidence linking the veteran's bilateral knee disability to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee or low back disability, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability warrants a 60 percent evaluation, reflecting severe painful motion or weakness as chronic residuals of total knee replacement.

The RO reduced the rating for bilateral pes cavus with traumatic arthritis from 30 percent to 10 percent in October 1988, but this decision was not CUE. The veteran's claim for an increased rating is denied.,The RO granted service connection for mixed tension migraine headaches effective February 25, 2000 and assigned a 30 percent evaluation for bilateral pes cavus with traumatic arthritis of the right foot effective April 27, 1999. The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee effective April 16, 2001. The previous rating was 10 percent prior to that date.

The veteran's request for an increased rating on his service-connected left knee disability was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA orthopedic examination.