Knee decisions — 2002

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hand and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no medical evidence of current chronic conditions related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a right leg disorder and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities has been denied. His post-operative residuals of an ACL repair are currently rated at 40 percent, and his osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected mechanical lower back pain and right below the knee amputation were both granted increased ratings, with the back disability receiving a 40 percent rating effective from May 31, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability began during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of total right knee arthroplasty with history of arthroscopy and degenerative arthritis, effective from March 1, 2000. The 10 percent rating for the service-connected shell fragment wound involving Muscle Group XV on the right side remains unchanged.

The Board finds that the appellant's right knee strain/internal derangement is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the appellant's left knee disability was not related to his service-connected disabilities of the left hip and tibial stress fractures, thus denying the claim for secondary service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and overuse syndrome of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee scar and granted an initial disability evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, effective from July 26, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current 10 percent ratings adequately reflected the severity of his symptoms.

The Board found no chronic disabilities related to the veteran's military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability and denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible in-service stressors.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the February 1969 rating decision. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to warrant service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including right knee and back disorders, finding no evidence that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date earlier than March 6, 2000 for reinstatement of his service-connected evaluations for patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondromalacia of the right knee and postoperative residuals of meniscectomy with patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current arthritis of the right knee to his military service, including an injury in Vietnam. The claim was denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of service and there is insufficient medical evidence connecting it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected. The veteran is granted increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.