Knee decisions — 2002

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from May 19, 1997, and increased to 70 percent from March 2, 2000. The left knee condition did not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing with a member of the Board. The issues include service connection for left ankle and knee disorders, as well as whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bronchitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized by chronic infrapatellar tendonitis with normal range of motion and no effusion, does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent assigned.

The Board has granted a 30% evaluation for arthritis of the left knee and denied an increased rating for instability, finding that the veteran's subluxation is no more than slight.

The veteran's arthritis of the right and left knees is granted service connection, while his other joints are denied. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to the matter at issue for the knees.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's injury to his right lower extremity, with below-the-knee amputation, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and assigned a 60 percent rating. The effective date is set at November 14, 1989.

The veteran meets the requirements for specially adapted housing due to permanent and total service-connected disability, including loss of use of one lower extremity with associated organic disease or injury affecting locomotion.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of her knee conditions has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by her representative.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left ear hearing loss and traumatic arthritis of both knees, as well as his claim for service connection for malaria. The VA found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability other than a laceration scar, and for a compensable evaluation for a laceration scar. The denial was based on lack of new and material evidence to reopen the claim and insufficient evidence supporting a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a rating of 30 percent for residuals of left knee replacement from September 1, 1996, to March 5, 2000, and from October 1, 2000, to the present.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and granted increased ratings of 20% each for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities since August 24, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and a temporary total evaluation following his right knee surgery, finding that there was no evidence of severe postoperative residuals or at least one month of convalescence.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current left knee disorder and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's bilateral below knee varicose veins and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The RO had previously assigned a 60 percent rating for the condition.

The Board found that the veteran's left and right knee chondromalacia did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5257, 5260, or 5261. The evidence showed complaints of pain, weakness, swelling, and locking but no objective signs of subluxation or lateral instability.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board found that the veteran's torn anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee preexisted his military service and did not worsen during service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia patella of both knees and assigned a noncompensable evaluation (10%) to each knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder had its onset during her military service and granted service connection. The rating for cervical strain remains at 10 percent.