Knee decisions — 2005

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for several disabilities, including a right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, right knee disorder, and dental trauma, all claimed as residuals of injuries sustained in a truck accident during service on April 18, 1953. The veteran's claim was reopened and granted effective January 2, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left femur and thoracic spine disabilities were denied. The RO assigned a non-compensable disability evaluation for arthralgia of the left knee and hip, effective from February 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in service, but his involuntary movement of the head and neck area was incurred during active service.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities were granted increased ratings of 20 percent for recurrent synovitis and internal derangement, respectively, effective September 15, 1999.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left leg, knee, and foot disabilities are related to his service. The RO previously denied these claims in June 1956 due to lack of evidence supporting such conditions during service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 9, 2002, as there was no evidence of an increase in disability that occurred within one year before the November 29, 2002, filing date.

The veteran's left knee conditions, including anterior cruciate ligament repair and medial meniscectomy and chondromalacia, are currently rated at 20 percent. His arthritis is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the veteran's left knee disability and PTSD.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's DJD of the left knee, effective from June 20, 1996.

The veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his bilateral knee disabilities, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee instability were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing and issuance of a statement of the case on his right knee arthritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or event.

The VA denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not show an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a right knee disorder, right leg disorder, or right groin disorder that is proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected spine disabilities.

The veteran's left knee disability, including post-operative meniscus repair and limitation of flexion, was granted a 10 percent evaluation effective April 13, 2005.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are not sufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, neck disorder, and residuals of head injury. The evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.