Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has reviewed the claims for service connection and found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen any of the previously denied claims. The veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected right knee disability, which includes arthritis and anterior cruciate ligament deficiency with reconstruction residuals.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to obtain missing service personnel records and other relevant documents.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of both knees was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee sprains are currently rated at 10 percent each, based on limitation of motion.,Neither knee has been found to meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for cervical canal stenosis, status post laminectomy at C5-C6 was dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his appeal. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for the residuals of a left knee injury and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis of the left knee are being remanded.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee with limitation of motion, but denied a compensable evaluation for his left knee instability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. The veteran's post-concussion syndrome is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability, maintaining a 30 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection on four separate issues are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further investigation.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent disability evaluation is warranted for the veteran's partial meniscus tear of the right knee, based on severe instability and recurrent subluxation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with a VA examination to determine if her current right knee, tibia, and ankle disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee should be set as if the grant had been made in the February 1995 decision, which found clear and unmistakable error. The veteran is therefore entitled to an effective date of August 20, 1994.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left knee strain with limitation of motion does not warrant a higher disability rating than the current 20 percent evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture with residual traumatic arthritis, lumbar spinal stenosis with disc bulges at L3-4, and medial meniscal tear of the right knee are all rated as they currently are. The veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The veteran is granted a 30 percent evaluation for service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee, based on painful limitation of motion and slight instability.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a left knee medial meniscectomy was denied as he did not file a prior claim within one year of his discharge from service. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is October 23, 2002.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA) and other applicable laws, regulations, and guidance. The veteran should be provided a VA examination for his right knee.