Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the propriety of apportionment of VA benefits, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current left knee disability related to her service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation as flexion is limited to 45 degrees in both knees.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left knee medial meniscectomy are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities were granted, but the assigned ratings of 10 percent for left knee disability, zero percent for right knee sprain, and zero percent for bilateral shoulder sprain are found to be appropriate based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left and right knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's sole service-connected disability (left knee postoperative medial meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease) does not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU, as his disability rating is only 20 percent. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to this condition alone.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left, above the knee amputation is related to his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee status post total knee arthroplasty and lumbar spinal stenosis status post laminectomy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of chronic right knee disability in service and insufficient evidence to connect current osteoarthritis to his service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis and Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims. The Board also found that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents during service, precluding presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for posttraumatic arthritis of the left and right knees have been denied as there is no evidence that the disabilities are service-connected or related to any exposure basis.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for arthritis and subluxation of the left knee have been granted, with a 20 percent rating assigned for subluxation effective from April 22, 2004.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right knee chondromalacia is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for increased evaluations remains pending.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and feet was not manifested in service or within one year postservice. The Board finds no evidence to support a nexus between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder pain, chronic back problems, and hypertension due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during her period of active duty.

The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent. The claims for reopening service connection for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left shoulder disorder have also been granted. Service connection for vertigo is denied. The right hip arthritis claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision. The right knee arthritis and right ankle disorders are both rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for headaches and a stomach disability secondary to bilateral knee pain, were denied by the RO.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for hemorrhoids and found that a timely substantive appeal was submitted with respect to the April 2004 denial of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. The issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder remains pending.