Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding the evaluation of the veteran's right knee disability. The case is now remanded for additional examination and consideration.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability, including arthritis and a meniscus tear, is related to his injury in service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and therefore secondary service connection for a right knee disorder is denied.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims regarding CUE in the RO decisions of February 1, 1985. The issues have not been properly appealed within the required time frame.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his right knee disability are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's lumbosacral spine disability and a separate rating for his right knee scars, finding that neither warranted a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for each knee from June 10, 1996 to July 21, 2002 and a 30 percent evaluation on and after July 22, 2002.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability, currently rated at 40 percent.

The RO has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee, left ankle, and low back but did not assign any increased ratings. The case is being remanded to schedule a personal hearing before a member of the Board.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of these disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has found that the veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants secondary service connection for the right knee disability.

The case is being remanded for further development of the veteran's medical records and a VA orthopedic examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right ankle disorder, as well as the nature and extent of his service-connected chondromalacia in both knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his claimed liver disability and right knee arthritis. The veteran's liver issue was reopened based on new medical evidence, but no rating or effective date was assigned.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional medical etiology opinions and other evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and disability of the legs and knees, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a back disorder. The appellant's current leg and knee conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right hip replacement with arthralgia, arthritis of the right shoulder, and arthritis of the right knee are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbosacral strain. The left hip arthritis, left knee arthritis, and left arm arthritis were not shown to be related to service or service-connected disability.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for postoperative residuals of a left knee injury with left anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, finding that the disability more nearly approximates moderate impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to new notification and development requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for postoperative residuals of left and right knee disorders, to include arthritis.