Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but granted a 10 percent rating for his skin disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board Hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for leukemia, right knee pain, and arthritis of the bilateral knees due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not related to service or an in-service injury, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's arthritis of bilateral knees is not service-connected, and his lumbosacral spine disorder has been rated at 10% since July 2003. The claim for a separate rating for arthritis was denied.

The Veteran's right knee instability and arthritis have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with a combined rating of 30 percent. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected residuals of a total right knee arthroplasty is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently shown low back, left knee, and bilateral leg disabilities are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, shell fragment wound of the upper right arm with retained foreign body and residual scar involvement, and shell fragment wound of the right knee are currently rated as 40 percent disabling. The appeals for higher ratings remain denied.

The Veteran's nerve entrapment left side of chest condition was granted service connection with an effective date of September 30, 1974.,The Veteran's claim for a left knee stress fracture residuals was granted with an effective date of August 15, 2003.

The Board found no evidence of a current left knee disability related to the Veteran's period of active service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for arthritis and a Baker's cyst of the right knee, superimposed on synovitis is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed skin disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, cervical disorder, low back disorder, head disorder, and right hand disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as chondrocalcinosis and post-operative status-post open medial meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Veteran is granted a separate rating of 10 percent for his slight instability.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any current right knee disability is related to service, including the Veteran's reports of injuries during his first period of service and post-service work-related injury.

The Veteran's claims for a combined rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The RO must arrange for an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected left knee disability, including functional impairment, and determine if it renders her unemployable.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia patella with synovitis, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and anal fistula and abscess have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee and hip disabilities, finding that the current evaluations of 10 percent were appropriate based on the evidence showing arthritis with limited motion but no instability or subluxation.