Knee decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability and whether any present back disorder was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee. The RO should also consider whether higher or separate ratings are warranted under alternative rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for gout, residuals of a left ankle injury, and residuals for a left knee disability. The veteran was not shown to have current residuals of injuries to the knees or ankles noted during military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and knees are being remanded due to a failure to provide proper notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than August 23, 1997, for the grant of a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected left knee disability is not warranted.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's postoperative left meniscectomy with arthritis, effective from February 1996. The right knee anterior cruciate ligament strain is rated at 10 percent, effective from August 1996.

The Board has granted a higher rating for the veteran's left knee injury residuals, but denied service connection for arthritis of the ankles and feet.

The veteran is seeking service connection for low back and bilateral knee disorders, which he claims are related to his service-connected right Achilles tendon tear. The case has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, bilateral hip, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence establishing a current disability or a relationship between any such disabilities and either service or a service-connected condition.

The veteran's right knee disorder, post arthrotomy with degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on pain, subluxation, lateral instability, or limitation of motion.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his tinea pedis with onychomycosis was denied. The RO also addressed the issue of service connection for right and left knee disorders, but did not adjudicate it as secondary to service-connected hallux rigidus or tinea pedis. The case is being remanded to address these issues.

The veteran's right knee disability was rated at 60 percent from February 1, 1998 to October 1, 2002. After a reduction in rating, he is now rated at 30 percent effective October 1, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the left patella, with residual weakness of the left thigh and a compensable rating for a residual scar from right knee laceration.

The veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine DJD and service connection for hip, knee, ankle, and foot disorders are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of revised VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected knee disorders were denied. The right knee was evaluated as impairment of the knee, and the left knee was evaluated based on instability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of chronic disabilities related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of current disability or a link between any claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and mechanical low back pain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.