Knee decisions — 2003

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record, as it does not meet the criteria for a 20 percent or 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5257 (moderate or severe impairment) due to lack of objective findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee strain is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for scar, residual of removal of recurring Baker's cyst behind the right knee and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective October 23, 1981. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, as the medical evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, low back, and cervical spine disabilities. Service connection was denied for sinusitis, skin disability (presumed fungal infection), right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for his knee conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities of a left knee, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine were denied by the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that her claimed condition was not related to her military service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The VA found no evidence of chronic conditions related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder is service-connected, as it was incurred during her military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability was aggravated by her military service and granted entitlement to service connection for it.

The veteran's case is being remanded for additional development to determine whether his right hand and left knee disabilities are related to service, as well as the extent of his back disability.

The veteran's right knee injury residuals, including patellar excision and Muscle Group XIV injury, are rated at 50% due to severe muscle disability. The left knee injury residuals warrant a separate 10% evaluation for instability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent and probative evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current right knee disorder and his period of active service.

The Board found that the veteran's left below the knee amputation was not etiologically related to his service-connected left great toe fracture with chronic osteomyelitis, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board denied the DIC claim, finding that the veteran's death was not service-connected and that he did not meet the requirements for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The evaluation of right trigeminal neuralgia and the evaluation of bilateral pes planus are pending further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and found that the veteran's current cervical spine condition began during her active duty. The remaining issues of higher ratings for left shoulder, left knee, and left ankle conditions are remanded.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability and denied special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.