Knee decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 16, 1994, for a grant of service connection for residuals of an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the left knee. The decision states that there is no legal entitlement to such an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine arthritis with disc disease and residuals of left knee synovitis, as his current conditions are not linked to his period of active duty.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with secondary panic attacks, degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, and shrapnel wound residuals to the back, render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment. The Board finds that these conditions meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back conditions were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of his left hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee gunshot wound residuals.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was granted effective June 8, 2000.

The veteran's right knee disorder, including postoperative residuals and arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent for the former condition and 10 percent for arthritis. The RO has granted these evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a separate 20 percent rating for pain with limitation of motion, in addition to the previously assigned 20 percent rating based on instability. The overall disability is rated as 40 percent.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD, a 20 percent evaluation for internal derangement with instability of the right knee, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee. The veteran is also entitled to a TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral knee disorder and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's left knee disability with a medial meniscus tear and traumatic arthritis is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he submitted a statement agreeing with the decision to increase his rating to 30 percent and that his substantive appeal had been satisfied on all known issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's major depression and right knee disability are service-connected, with the latter being granted based on new evidence received after the original denial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees was incurred in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and pes planus, finding that the February 1946 rating decisions were not the product of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, which was initially denied in April 1992. The appellant's current symptoms were noted but no definitive service connection was established.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 24, 1986 for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury due to lack of evidence of an earlier claim.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a grant of service connection for the veteran's right knee disorder, as there was no documented in-service injury and conflicting medical opinions were presented.