Knee decisions — 2002

The veteran's service connection claims for amnesia and a heart disorder were denied. The claim for residuals of right pneumothorax was granted with a 10% evaluation, while the claim for postoperative residuals of left knee injury was also granted with a 10% evaluation. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not established.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to active service.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized by pain and limitation of motion, meets the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's overuse injury of the lumbosacral spine and maintained the 10 percent rating for his right knee injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder warrants a 20 percent rating, as there is no evidence of severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for postoperative residuals of the right knee, effective from the date of the July 1994 rating decision. The initial rating of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the right knee from March 1995 remains unchanged.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of an injury to the left shoulder, a right shoulder disorder, and a left knee disorder based on evidence showing these conditions are related to the veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder secondary to the veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder. The rating for residuals of an avulsion fracture of the right ankle remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and bilateral knee disorder, as well as entitlement to compensable evaluations for right and left shoulder disorders.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee, ankle, and elbow disabilities were denied by the RO. The RO assigned separate disability ratings of 10 percent each for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disability, which is manifested by X-ray evidence of arthritis with a noncompensable level of limitation of motion, does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent. The claim was denied as there is no evidence of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking pain and effusion into the joint, limitation of flexion to 30 degrees, or limitation of extension to 20 degrees.

The Board determined that the veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain and right foot strain have been denied as the evidence does not show any compensable functional impairment or symptoms that warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted, allowing the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder to be reopened.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back disorder and chronic right knee disorder. The claims are granted as both conditions were found to be related to incidents in service, though arthritis of these areas is not presumed due to a lack of continuity or evidence showing onset during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee arthritis is aggravated by his service-connected right lower extremity disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a temporary total evaluation due to left knee surgery and increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disabilities are not related to a service-connected condition or due to an injury in service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran does not have current disabilities of the ankles, knees, or left hip that were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right wrist ganglion cyst and for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disorders. The evidence does not support the veteran's assertions that he currently suffers from these conditions as a result of his military service.