Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for muscular aching of the left thigh, muscular aching of the left leg, and right knee condition due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The veteran's knee disabilities have been granted an initial rating of 10 percent each, with no issues related to service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of a right knee disorder, thus denying the petition to reopen.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the extent of impairment due to his service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as right and left ankle disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized arthritis and assigned a 10% evaluation. The claim for increased evaluations of the left knee disability is denied, but an initial 10% evaluation is granted for the right knee disability effective June 12, 1995.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected left knee instability, finding that it is currently manifested by moderate impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee and hip disabilities, but granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied service connection for a back disability. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his tinnitus was related to service but not meeting criteria for an increased rating or separate disability ratings. The right knee and left knee disabilities were found to be rated appropriately under the applicable diagnostic codes. The lumbar spine disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, right testicle atrophy, left knee arthritis, and left hand arthritis with retained foreign bodies. The veteran's conditions are found to be due to injuries sustained during his active military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's current left knee disability, including arthritis, is related to his service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for chronic right hand and knee disorders, finding no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following active service. The veteran's current arthritis was not shown until many years after separation from service.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the service-connected post-operative residuals, arthrotomy of the left knee with degenerative changes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence submitted by the veteran's representative, including a medical opinion from Dr. Jonathan J. Paley.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the left knee and residuals of a left knee injury with derangement, finding that the evidence did not warrant an increase in disability rating.

The veteran's appeal involves his left knee disability, which was previously rated at 20 percent prior to February 4, 2004 and at 30 percent beginning April 1, 2005. The Board has determined that the current evidence does not support a rating in excess of these levels.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been manifested by a torn medial meniscus, pain on motion, swelling, chondromalacia, and degenerative joint disease without limitation of flexion or extension. The Board concludes that the criteria for an initial evaluation greater than 20 percent are not met during any portion of the appeal period.