Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability did not have its onset in service or within one year of separation, and is not otherwise related to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 15, 2005 and for an extension of temporary total disability benefits beyond April 29, 2005 following his right knee surgery.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement has resulted in a current rating of 30 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5055. The Board found additional functional loss due to pain during repetitive motion and granted an intermediate rating between 30 and 60 percent based on this finding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee strain and left hip and knee strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right hand laceration as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability and denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 24, 2006, for the award of a 40 percent rating for his service-connected residuals of left anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for arthritis, sciatica, and seasonal rhinitis were withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The appeal for right knee degenerative joint disease and left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records, including those from March and May 2009 at the VAMC in Richmond, Virginia.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Central Office hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found that the Veteran's above-the-knee amputation of the left lower extremity was not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of fracture of the left first metatarsal.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder, including degenerative joint disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board also concluded that the right knee disorder is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or for many years thereafter. The Veteran's lay statements regarding inservice incidents are not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a right knee disability in service and that it did not manifest within one year of separation. The Board also determined there was no evidence linking the current right knee disability to service or to his left foot disability, which is already service-connected. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability secondary to a left foot disability was denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted a rating of 10 percent effective June 2002, and increased to 20 percent effective September 5, 2006.,The Veteran's low back disability was initially rated at 10 percent in June 2002. As of September 5, 2006, the rating was increased to 20 percent.,The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a separate 10 percent rating for painful flexion effective June 1, 2002.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability was initially rated at 10 percent in June 2002. As of June 1, 2002, the Veteran received a separate 10 percent rating based on painful flexion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no evidence linking the current right knee disorder to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a right knee injury sustained during active service are service-connected.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the June 2002 rating decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left knee fracture.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and low back disabilities were denied, while service connection was granted for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability. The Board will also consider whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip and left knee disabilities are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations.,He is not entitled to a higher rating for his hip or knee conditions.