Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for leg problems as secondary to a service-connected lower back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee condition and increased the rating for his right knee disability. The effective date of the right knee disability evaluation remains September 17, 1993.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection of a right shoulder condition and a right eye scotoma are not addressed in this decision. The claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the right knee is granted with a 10% evaluation, but it does not specify whether the issue pertains to the knee itself or another overlapping condition. The claim for service connection of right ulnar neuropathy with involvement at the elbow is also not addressed in this decision.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral chondromalacia patella of the knees, effective January 7, 2004. The claim for an earlier effective date remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various disabilities, finding that there was no legal entitlement to secondary service connection for headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current arthritis of the lumbar spine and right knee are related to his service-connected left leg disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran did not incur any permanent injury to his neck, low back, or left knee during service and has no evidence of chronic disability related to these conditions. The current disabilities are attributed to post-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right tibia and fibula fracture with right lower leg pain and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, each with a 10 percent disability evaluation. The effective date is set at February 15, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral knee, leg, or hip disorder, nor does he have residuals of frostbite. The skin disorder claim is also denied as there is no evidence to support its existence during service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a combined 40 percent rating for left knee disability, finding that the earliest ascertainable increase in severity was July 6, 1998.

The Board previously denied service connection for right and left knee disorders in May 1984 and February 1988. The veteran submitted new evidence, but it is not sufficient to reopen the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, including a torn medial meniscus of the left knee. The Board also granted a 10 percent rating for conjunctivitis as of October 10, 2000.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran has a current right knee disability and whether it is related to service or his service-connected left knee disability. The case will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The veteran's right knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disorder.,There is no evidence of a left wrist disorder in service or related to service. The claim for residuals of the left wrist injury has been denied.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied, with the exception of a grant of service connection and a 10% rating for bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees. The other conditions were not granted increased ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis and bilateral knee disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last final decision.

The Board previously denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a below-the-left-knee amputation caused by VA medical treatment in December 1999. The Court has now remanded the case back to the Board for further proceedings consistent with the Secretary's Motion for Remand.

The Board has restored the effective date for the separate grant of a 20 percent rating for right knee arthritis to March 20, 1997. The veteran's right knee disability was rated at various levels during different periods, with the most recent ratings being granted and assigned from March 20, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.