Knee decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities are secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right ankle sprain.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) by reason of needing the regular aid and attendance of another individual, finding that he is unable to protect himself from daily hazards due to severe mental incapacity. The housebound rate appeal was dismissed as moot since a greater benefit had already been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the hips, knees, and ankles but assigned no percent ratings as there is minimal degenerative change with slight limitation of motion in all joints.

The Board found that the earliest date for which service connection could be assigned was March 13, 1989. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left elbow disability and denied an increased rating for his right knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of chondromalacia patella and service connection for stomach, left knee, and ankle disorders due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to either service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder and his active service, leading to a denial of the claim.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability related to service, and denied the claim for service connection. For the right knee bursitis, the Board determined that there was not enough evidence to support an increased rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding no medical evidence linking a current left knee disorder to symptoms noted in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a lack of causal connection between his claimed knee disabilities and VA medical treatment provided on April 4, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current left ankle or left knee disabilities and therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The veteran's low back disability was granted a 50% evaluation before June 9, 1997. However, the left knee injury was denied an increased rating.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected right knee chondromalacia does not warrant a compensable disability evaluation as her range of motion is within normal limits, with some additional functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that the veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for atopic dermatitis and increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and right knee. The rating for deformity of the right little finger remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication due to a lack of proper notice in the February 1978 rating decision and will consider service connection issues on appeal.

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

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of frostbite or fragment wounds during service and concluding that any current arthritis is not related to service.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on instability or recurrent subluxation. The veteran's functional limitation due to pain in his right knee is considered separately under Diagnostic Codes 5003 and 5261.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking the claimed conditions to his active duty service.