Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of a current disability or chronic in-service condition that could be linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, which was previously denied. The veteran's current diagnosed infected total knee prosthesis infection with Staphylococcus aureus as the organism is related to an injury sustained during active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability and whether a total knee replacement should be considered.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability and determined that it was aggravated during service. The decision grants this claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee ACL repairs was granted, with a 20 percent rating effective January 1, 1997.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis was established and assigned a noncompensable rating from July 25, 1999. A 10 percent rating was assigned effective July 25, 1999.,The veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity scarring associated with ACL repair was granted, with a noncompensable rating effective July 25, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no current chronic disabilities and insufficient evidence to support the claims.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for the veteran's status post left knee arthroscopy and retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee disabilities. The maximum benefit under the applicable provisions is assigned.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided. This includes obtaining updated medical examinations and ensuring proper VCAA notification.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder, including degenerative joint disease, is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities. The April 1969 RO decision remains final.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and review of the evidence to determine if any current knee or back disabilities are related to the appellant's military service, specifically his parachute jumps as a paratrooper.

The Board found that the veteran's current knee disability did not begin during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability, including a calcified mass and early unicompartmental arthritis of the right medial joint space, is related to his active service. The Board found no new evidence or material to reopen the claim.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of fractures of the mandible with deformity and left knee disability (residuals of a left knee injury with removal of patella).

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for right knee disabilities and an earlier effective date are being remanded due to insufficient documentation in the file, need for a new examination, and consideration of VAOPGCPREC 9-2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional VA examinations and a review of the claims file to ensure compliance with all due process requirements.

The Board found that the veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his period of active military duty and did not increase in severity during such service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of broken toes and left knee injury, finding that there was no evidence to support a current disability related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee instability prior to April 20, 2004 did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.