Knee decisions — 2002

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the hands and knees, finding no current disease or disability related to active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee with meniscectomy and lateral release, effective from November 21, 1991.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and granted increased ratings for the veteran's right ankle and shoulder disabilities. The left knee disability is not considered to be related to active military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, effective from March 18, 1997. The appeal is denied on all other issues.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for anteriolateral plica syndrome of the left knee, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right knee, finding that there was no evidence showing presence of the disability within one year of service discharge and concluding that any current right knee pathology is more likely due to post-service fracture and rodding.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee and saphenous neuritis do not warrant higher ratings as their symptoms are adequately addressed by the current 10% disability ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain and a left knee disorder. The veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10%.

The veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability were dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The veteran's right ankle disorder is not service-connected. The left knee condition and the right knee disorder are both service-connected, with increased ratings granted for each.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, which fully reflects the impairment due to post-traumatic osteoarthritis with stiffness and fatigability.

The Board found that the veteran's knee disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees is not related to his service-connected bilateral weak/flat feet and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral joint pain and osteochondritis dissecans of both knees, as well as his arthritis of the right knee, were denied. The RO had already granted separate 10 percent ratings for each knee due to their service-connected conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for arthritis of the left knee and ligamentous instability of the left knee, finding that current evaluations were appropriate based on existing evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability or PTB within the scope of service and denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for secondary service connection for numbness of the right foot is denied. The claim for an increased rating for postoperative residuals internal derangement of the right knee is also denied.

The veteran's left knee disability is service-connected and rated at 10 percent. The claim for cysts behind the ears was denied as there is no current evidence of such condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee as secondary to his right knee disabilities and denied increased ratings for both knees. The decision also referred the issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee on a secondary basis to the RO.