Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left knee, status post total knee replacement, effective from the date of the decision.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected effort strain of both knees, prior to May 5, 2004. The evidence showed that the veteran could raise his legs from 90 to 0 degrees repeatedly and without difficulty during the examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for ligamentous laxity and degenerative arthritis of his left knee, finding that the evidence does not support higher ratings under any applicable criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, arthritis, heart disability, PTSD, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left knee disability is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of one or both feet, qualifying him for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for left knee injury with traumatic arthritis and left knee instability, both rated at 30 percent and 20 percent respectively.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 25, 2001 are eligible for payment or reimbursement due to the emergency nature of his treatment and the lack of feasible VA availability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, while he was granted a compensable rating for his right fourth metacarpal fracture. His cervical strain and bilateral shoulder bursitis were not found to be related to service, but his left knee disorder is considered incurred in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition that could be linked to his current condition.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not due to disease or injury in service and denied his claim for service connection. The rating for his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right knee, including scars, foreign bodies, and Osgood-Schlatter's disease, was upheld at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating effective April 22, 1996.

The veteran's chronic left knee disorder and bilateral shin splints were both incurred in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA orthopedic examination to assess the severity of her bilateral knee disabilities.

The veteran's left knee disability, characterized by a fracture and chronic draining sinus tract, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the criteria for a higher rating have been met.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and a left knee disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to service or exposure to radiation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and lower back disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and granted it. Service connection is also granted for a back disability, but not for a left knee disability or pes planus with pain in the metacarpal phalangeal joints, big toe, left foot.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left knee sprain, finding the disability to be 'slight' with no more than slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.