Knee decisions — 2002

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the conditions did not warrant a rating higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied the propriety of the initial rating for patello-femoral syndrome of the left knee and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher evaluation may be available.

The VA denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for arthritis of the shoulders, knees and TMJ due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee injury, currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee instability and determined that a 10 percent evaluation was appropriate for right knee arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and basal cell carcinoma/actinic keratoses. The VA found no medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and increased disability ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the right knee does not warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a noncompensable or higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee chondromalacia and assigned a single 10 percent disability rating effective January 20, 1995. The veteran is now seeking an increased evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disorder and assigned July 28, 1994 as the effective date. The veteran's original claim was filed on January 9, 1978.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38 of the United States Code because his service-connected left knee disability and tinnitus did not render him unsuitable for employment in his previous occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral knee disorder or a bilateral leg disability incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim is denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding no current evidence of such a condition and noting that there was insufficient evidence to determine if any pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his left knee disability, finding that the current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 24, 1997 for the award of special monthly compensation for the loss of use of both feet was granted. The effective date is set at February 9, 1996.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left leg disability and has determined that new and material evidence has been presented. The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left leg disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 19, 2000 for service connection and evaluations of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, 10 percent for left knee instability, and 10 percent for right knee instability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the claims, including VA examinations and development of medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.