Knee decisions — 2002

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal on two issues: whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for a disability of the right knee, and service connection for a left wrist and lumbar spine disability as proximately due to or the result of the veteran's service-connected disability of the left knee. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a left knee injury, back injury, and ulcer condition. The Board found no evidence linking current complaints to active service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the veteran's contention that his current condition is related to an injury sustained during military service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right ankle, effective February 26, 2001.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability incurred or aggravated by service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The VA denied a separate, compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee popliteal cyst due to the disability already being considered in the ratings for degenerative arthritis and other conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities warrant a separate 10 percent evaluation each, based on their current status of chondromalacia with mild degenerative changes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of both knees warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as there is no evidence to support higher evaluations based on limitation of motion or other diagnostic codes. The initial evaluations have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative changes in both knees, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from an injury or illness during active duty.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee injury due to new and material evidence submitted since the previous denial in September 1985. The issue is now under development.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment due to his inability to use a vehicle with a clutch.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and back disorder, both secondary to the veteran's service-connected left knee disorder. The original disability rating for residuals of an injury to the left knee with lateral meniscus tear was granted at 20%, but the effective date for this benefit is still pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, does not warrant a higher evaluation based on additional limitation of motion or pain. The current rating adequately reflects the severity of the disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, citing his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The veteran's death was attributed to a cerebrovascular accident due to cerebrovascular disease, with coronary artery disease as a significant contributing factor. The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that stress from his service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the knees and arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that these conditions are not due to or aggravated by service-connected rheumatic fever.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis and postoperative residuals of a left knee anterior cruciate ligament injury, finding that they did not warrant an increased rating based on their current manifestations.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee pain, but denied service connection for shin splints. The veteran's bilateral knee conditions are presumed to be related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right wrist, right knee, and left knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent since service connection was established.