Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disability and awarded a non-compensable rating for his left knee disability. The veteran is entitled to an increased rating for his left knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and to arrange for a telephone hearing if requested by the veteran.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that his condition did not warrant a higher rating based on the clinical findings and symptoms described.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating required for pension purposes. The veteran has multiple disabilities but can still engage in substantial gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the severity of the appellant's knee disabilities and any gastrointestinal disorder. The RO will then re-adjudicate the claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal regarding a higher rating for left knee chondromalacia.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected left and right total knee replacements. The claim for service connection for a vascular disability of the left lower extremity is also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, residuals of a laceration of the knee, bronchial asthma, or chronic bronchitis as a result of service. The claim to reopen for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of an abrasion to the right knee and granted service connection. Service connection was denied for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee bursitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his service-connected left knee replacement or to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects and inadequate VA examination, requiring additional development of evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for synovitis of the right knee, and left knee contusion with synovitis and instability were denied. The claim for PTSD was reopened based on new evidence but remains denied due to failure to report for VA examinations. Increased ratings for the knees remain denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability was granted, with a current evaluation of 20 percent. The RO also established service connection for a right knee disability secondary to the left knee disability and denied claims for service connection for a back disability and TDIU.

The Board has granted restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, which had been reduced to 20 percent.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right knee osteochondritis desiccans and left knee lateral instability, both rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative chondromalacia patella of the right knee and an increased rating for coccyx fracture with low back pain. The decision found that any current right knee problems were not related to a disease or injury in service, or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a higher initial rating of 30 percent is warranted for the postoperative residuals of ACL reconstruction of the right knee (other than arthritis) on and after July 1, 2001.