Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting a total rating based upon individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the left knee warrants a rating of 10 percent, based on limitation of motion. The disability does not meet criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen these claims.,Regarding the claim of compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of right hip fracture, the Board has also granted this claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and bilateral knee disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee injury, finding that his condition warranted a 10 percent evaluation based on arthritis and pain.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee DJD, finding that at its worst, the range of motion was from zero to 115 degrees with pain on movement and decreased range of motion due to repetitive movement. There is no objective evidence of instability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including a VA examination of the veteran's left knee disability and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to failure in providing effective VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriatic arthritis of the left thumb and patellofemoral syndrome of both knees prior to August 26, 2002. The decision found that there was no evidence of ankylosis or other disabling conditions in these cases.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and did not have a nexus to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's right thigh, hip, and knee disabilities have been rated based on their current severity. Effective January 10, 2008, the rating for fracture of the right thigh with intramedullary rod and mild degenerative joint disease of the hip and knee is increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current knee and back disabilities are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the knees, but denied service connection for traumatic arthritis of the ankles.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor is it proximately due to, or the result of his service-connected left knee disorder. The criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for total knee replacement of the left knee are also not met.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a liver disability, kidney disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right knee was evaluated at 10 percent from February 22, 2002, to August 30, 2006, and at 30 percent thereafter. The Board denied higher initial ratings for this condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims file.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral immersion foot and a right knee condition, finding no current residuals from these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a link between them and service.