Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need to address the credibility of the Veteran's lay statements regarding chronic and continuous symptoms following service.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee was rated at 10 percent prior to November 8, 2004. From January 1, 2005, he is entitled to a separate rating of 40 percent for limitation of extension of the left leg.

The Veteran's knees were rated at 10% prior to total knee replacements, and the Board found that instability warranted a separate 10% rating for each knee. The non-instability based ratings have not been met.

The Veteran's internal derangement of the left knee is manifested by complaints including pain, grinding, locking, instability, and some swelling. However, objective testing has revealed a stable knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination to assess the extent of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, with a separate 10 percent rating for slight lateral instability. The Veteran's left forearm disorders are each rated at 10 percent.

The VA determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's right knee disorder to his service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, including as secondary to service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability and address inconsistencies found in a June 2005 VA QTC examination report.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed to determine the etiology of any currently present right knee disability and whether it is related to service, specifically including the May 2005 motor vehicle accident during the Veteran's third period of active military service (July 2004 to May 2005).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and major depressive disorder have been denied. The initial rating assigned by the RO was a noncompensable (0%) rating, which has not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for certification for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied in November 1982 and reopened in August 2006. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Prior to February 23, 2008, he had a noncompensable evaluation for right knee disorder due to recurrent subluxation or lateral instability (Diagnostic Code 5257). Since February 23, 2008, he has been assigned a 10% evaluation for degenerative joint disease post meniscectomy with limited range of motion.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities of the feet (residuals of cold injury).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating were denied. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with separate ratings for limitation of flexion and ACL deficiency.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (left knee disability and right knee disability) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, based on arthritis with painful motion and evidence of slight instability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder, diverticulosis, rectal adenocarcinoma, and residuals of a left lumpectomy procedure have been granted initial evaluations. The left knee disorder is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claims.