Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of amputation or significant disability in the left small finger, right ankle fracture, compression fracture of the lumbar spine, or left knee injury. Service connection was not granted due to lack of evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his military service. His left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss are not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claims. The decision also addressed other issues such as evaluations for various disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and for further consideration of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 28, 2003 was granted as the date entitlement arose for his service-connected instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, effective June 29, 2005. The RO denied claims for service connection for COPD and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's left knee disability status post total arthroplasty is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling due to pain and limited motion. The Board found no evidence of instability or subluxation, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257. Service connection for hypertension and pulmonary disease was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA orthopedic examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left knee disability, and schizophrenia. However, it denied the underlying de novo issues of entitlement to service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral knee disability that was caused or aggravated by his service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage criteria for a TDIU rating, but further examination is needed to determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of benefits in any of the issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, and left knee arthritis as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.

The Veteran's waiver claim is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case addressing this issue and notification of appellate rights.

The Veteran's hypertension, right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, and right knee strain were all denied initial compensable ratings from August 24, 2001 to April 27, 2004.

The Veteran's right knee injury, manifested by pain and limited range of motion, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's claims for temporary total disability ratings based on need for convalescence following left and right total knee arthroplasties were denied by the RO.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of fracture of the right tibia and fibula with post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.