Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent prior to March 24, 2000 and as of May 1, 2000. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for recurrent pain and instability of the left knee, finding that the increased evaluation was not based on service treatment records added to the record after the February 1978 grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for limitation of flexion and 30 percent for DJD and instability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability with degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no competent evidence associating any current knee disorder to active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, diagnosed as patellofemoral syndrome. The right knee disorder is considered secondary to the left knee disorder and remains under review.

The Veteran's left knee disability was initially rated at 10 percent prior to April 17, 2007. It was then increased to 20 percent from that date until February 18, 2010, when it was further increased to 30 percent following a total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA clinician's opinion on his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tension headaches and left knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to reassess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including superficial peroneal neuropathy of the left lower extremity and left knee laxity and instability, was granted a combined 40 percent rating effective September 24, 2008. A TDIU was also granted effective that date.

The Board found that there is no current evidence of a bilateral knee disability or degenerative disk disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and thus denied the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only is denied as he does not meet the criteria for entitlement to this benefit.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right and left knee arthritis. After considering all evidence, including a VA examination and private medical opinions, the Board finds that there is at least an equipoise of evidence regarding whether the current bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to military service. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, including as secondary to a right knee disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his request for an increased rating for s/p fracture of the right little finger remains denied.,The Veteran's right little finger fracture is not shown to have resulted in any amputation or present an exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his right knee disability. The issues include seeking a higher rating for his right knee condition and determining whether he should be granted service connection for left knee strain and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating for the condition is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are found to be aggravated by his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurogenic bowel, subconjunctival hemorrhages (claimed asphyxia residuals), and hair loss. The claims were not reopened or granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his service-connected right knee disability.