Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing disability for VA compensation purposes and his service-connected post-traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left knee is manifested by normal extension. The criteria for an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for instability of the left knee and an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for post-traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left knee have not been met.

The veteran is seeking compensation for a left above-the-knee amputation performed in March 1998 due to VA treatment, but the case has been remanded as additional medical records are needed and further clarification on whether an unforeseeable event contributed to the disability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee conditions, and thus remands the case back to the RO for further development.

The veteran is seeking service connection for lower back and right knee disorders. The case has been remanded due to missing medical records from the late 1960s.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from VA, Social Security Administration, and Office of Worker's Compensation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dysphasia is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and his right knee disorder claim was previously denied in September 1946. The evidence received since then supports reopening the right knee disorder claim but does not establish service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum percentage requirements for TDIU, and these disabilities alone are not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's initial disability rating for her left knee injury residuals was granted at a 10 percent level. From October 22, 2007, the RO increased the rating to 20 percent based on symptoms including pain and meniscal derangement.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee, right knee, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition that is secondary to the veteran's service-connected knee conditions. The claims of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of a meniscectomy of the right knee did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death, nor contribute substantially or materially to cause his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a back condition and an increased rating for his right knee injury, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection. The right knee disability was rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and, therefore, service connection is denied for all issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected knee disorders do not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, and motion in either knee does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degeneration in the intrameniscal spaces of both knees began during service and is therefore granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee arthritis is currently manifested by pain and slight limitation of flexion, warranting a 20 percent rating. The evidence does not support an increase in disability beyond this level.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, which was previously service-connected and rated at noncompensable (0 percent), warrants a 10 percent evaluation. The current rating is in line with the criteria for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, full range of motion without pain, and no significant functional impairment.