Knee decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left foot amputation aggravated his right and left knee disorders, thus granting service connection for the degree of aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss based on evidence showing a link between the conditions and the veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, but granted a noncompensable rating for the residuals of a fracture and bone spur on the left olecranon process.

The Board has determined that the veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left knee, with left total knee replacement, is related to service and grants this claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and right and left knee disorders, secondary to a right ankle disorder. The claims are therefore granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and shin splints, and awarded a 50% evaluation for bilateral pes planus. Service connection was denied for gout and residuals of a right foot fracture.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his current degenerative arthritis is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right knee scar was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The claims include service connection, increased rating, and effective date issues.

The veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability, which is currently rated at 10 percent, could not be granted.

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

The veteran's right knee disorder was assigned a 100 percent disability rating for the period of February 10, 1999 to April 1, 1999 based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence. Following this period, a 20 percent disability evaluation was restored.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural issues and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a back injury, left shoulder injury, left knee injury, left ankle injury and nose injury. The RO also denied his claim for an increased rating for the service-connected tonsillectomy.

The Board has determined that the appellant's disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and degenerative joint diseases of the left knee and hip, prevent her from protecting herself from daily environmental hazards. Therefore, she meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board found that the appellant did not have a bilateral knee or elbow disorder during her period of active duty for training, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylosis, 4th lumbar vertebra is rated at 60 percent disabling. The RO increased the evaluation for arthritis of the right and left knees to 10 percent each effective December 16, 1996. The veteran's claim for higher evaluations for instability of his knees was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chondromalacia of the patella, left and right knees do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

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