Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are each rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested as status post-medical meniscectomy with no more than moderate subluxation and instability, and with degenerative joint disease with painful motion and extension limited by 18 degrees. The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability is better evaluated under Diagnostic Codes 5257 and 5261.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for compliance with VCAA notification and assistance requirements, including obtaining SSA disability determinations and medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, chronic sinusitis, and sleep apnea as secondary to sinusitis. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for elevated liver enzymes, right knee chondromalacia, and left knee chondromalacia. The Veteran was not granted any initial evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for left knee arthritis was denied as the RO has already assigned the earliest possible effective date provided by law.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for left knee and upper respiratory disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right lateral meniscectomy and traumatic arthritis in the right knee are currently evaluated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under DCs 5256-5263. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left wrist fracture, lumbar strain, and right knee injury were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for depression, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of service connection for a left knee disability remains remanded as there are unresolved questions regarding its onset and relationship to service.

New and material evidence was received for all four claims, allowing them to be reopened. However, the claims for service connection were not substantiated based on the available medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellar femoral syndrome of the right and left knees, as well as service connection for a low back disability, were denied by the RO. The RO assigned a 20% rating to the Veteran's patellar femoral syndrome of the right knee effective April 10, 2000.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since October 3, 2000. The RO found that the disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion, instability, dislocated semilunar cartilage with locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis and a right knee disability, to include arthritis. The Veteran's appeal is now remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right hip bursitis, as well as patellofemoral syndrome of the knees, were denied by the Board. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, left knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the left knee associated with left knee instability, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, do not meet the requisite schedular percentages for TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any claimed condition and his military service.