Knee decisions — 2005

The Board has granted service connection for right hip and right ankle disorders as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left foot condition, and his right foot and knee conditions are not related to service. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee or gastrointestinal disorder as a result of service. The claims for increased ratings for skin and left ankle disorders are denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition and granted service connection on the merits. The claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, major depressive disorder with psychosis (claimed as anxiety and depression), and secondary service connection for the same are also granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis was denied, but his PTSD was granted with a rating of 70%.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder, both secondary to his service-connected right knee condition. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during his brief period of active service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for postoperative lateral meniscus tear and patellar tendon repair of the left knee, and postoperative medial meniscus repair and chondromalacia patella of the right knee, each rated 10 percent. The veteran's claims are now pending on the issue of whether he is entitled to higher ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of the veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The VA denied the veteran's request for an increased disability rating for his right knee condition, currently rated at 10 percent. The appeal was not about service connection but rather a claim for higher compensation based on current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left and right knee disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his postoperative left knee chondromalacia patella and service connection for a right knee meniscus tear secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The veteran was previously granted a 10% disability rating in November 1990, which was later increased to 20% effective October 31, 2000.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her left total knee replacement, which is secondary to her service-connected left knee arthritis, has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran, and it will be reviewed again with consideration of this additional medical evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee replacement and TDIU will be reconsidered after these actions.

The veteran's combined rating of 70 percent for his service-connected disabilities was revised to 90 percent due to CUE in the February 10, 1949 rating decision. The effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is set at December 6, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, including arthritis, is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.