Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and lumbosacral strain have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found no link between the Veteran's 1943 left knee injury in service and his current left knee complaints, concluding that the disability is more likely due to occupational stress over a 20-year career as a shipyard crane operator.

Your claim for service connection for DJD of the left knee has been granted and you are already receiving disability compensation for this condition. There is no longer a case or controversy before the Board.

The Veteran's left knee retropatellar pain syndrome has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation from September 1, 2001 to January 9, 2003 and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent since January 10, 2003.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee degenerative joint disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's right knee replacement residuals have not been productive of chronic severely painful motion or weakness, flexion limited to 45 degrees, extension limited to 10 degrees, severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, ankylosis, malunion of the tibia and fibula, dislocated semilunar cartilage, or locking of the knee. Therefore, his claim for increased ratings is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran did not submit sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee arthroplasty is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of severe painful motion or weakness to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 12, 2005 for the award of a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee. The temporary total rating and subsequent 30 percent rating are denied as there is no earlier effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disorder and left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are causally related to service. Service connection was denied for asthma due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development, including scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology and date of onset of his right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered after all requested actions are completed.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been rated by analogy under Diagnostic Code 5020 for synovitis. The RO has determined that the current ratings are appropriate as there is no limitation of motion or arthritis found in either knee.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 70 percent disabling since January 21, 2009. The other conditions have not met the criteria for higher initial ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no medical evidence to support a nexus between his current left knee disability and either service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by semilunar dislocated cartilage and degenerative changes, is currently rated at 20 percent for post-traumatic arthrosis/post-traumatic arthritis. The claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was first manifested during service and is presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board finds that the Veteran has established service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and an upper spine disability was granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for recurrent right foot strain is denied as there is no evidence of an earlier pending claim.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen several service connection claims, but the specific evaluations for these conditions remain unchanged.