Knee decisions — 2002

The Board has denied service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee, but granted service connection for arthritis of the lower extremities (feet). The veteran's current arthritis is linked to her service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has determined that the reduction of the veteran's disability rating from 60 percent to 30 percent, effective July 1, 2001, for his service-connected left knee, status post total knee replacement, was improper. The prior 60 percent rating is restored.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability, currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right hip or left knee disability, and any complaints are not related to service-connected conditions. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of surgical scars of the left thigh, left knee, and right hip areas is denied as there was no claim received prior to December 19, 1997.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right knee disability, finding that no additional disability was caused by VA treatment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders based on new evidence submitted since the final decisions in June 1975 and August 1999, respectively.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative ACL deficient left knee warrants a 30 percent evaluation, reflecting significant functional impairment and instability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claims, including review of revised rating criteria.

The veteran's left knee disability, including chondromalacia and traumatic arthritis, is rated at 20 percent for the chondromalacia and 10 percent for the arthritis. The combined rating of 30 percent does not meet the criteria for TDIU.,The veteran has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for left knee degenerative arthritis and partial medical meniscectomy with osteochondral defect over the medial femoral condyle, finding that these conditions meet the criteria for such evaluations based on their manifestations of pain and limited motion.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his total disability from PTSD and other non-service connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral knee arthritis and that a pterygium of the right eye results in corrected visual acuity of 20/20. The claim for service connection for arthritis of the knees was denied, as there is no evidence of arthritis during service or within one year post-service. The claim for a compensable evaluation for the pterygium of the right eye was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence supporting an etiological relationship between the veteran's current hip and knee disorders and service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left knee injury and defective hearing in the left ear, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic left knee disability warrants a rating of 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under current VA regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 29, 1996 for service connection of left knee and left hip disabilities due to lack of evidence submitted prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for cold injury residuals and osteoarthritis of the knees, as well as his attempt to reopen a claim for right ankle disorder. The evidence did not support these claims.