Knee Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected postoperative residuals of osteochondroma of the right knee has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that a medical examination is necessary to address the concerns in the Joint Motion for Remand, including determining if the veteran's left knee disorder preexisted service and underwent permanent increase in severity during service.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities. The right ankle disability was rated at 10%, while the left knee disability prior to October 15, 1999, was also rated at 10%. However, beginning October 15, 1999, the rating was increased to 30%.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his upper and lower extremity disorders, excluding shoulders and knees. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability, finding that the effective date of June 25, 1991 was appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed right hip, right shoulder, back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting a current disability or a link to active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began in or are related to his military service.,Specifically, the Board found no objective medical evidence of undiagnosed illnesses and concluded that the veteran's symptoms were attributable to known diagnoses.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if multiple disabilities are separately ratable under the rule in Esteban v. Brown and to obtain sufficient medical evidence to rate them accordingly.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee injury or aggravation during active duty, and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment was denied as he does not meet the threshold requirement for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of the knees did not manifest during service or within one year post-service, and there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the right and left knees as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that the arthritis is related to military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities were denied. The right ankle disability was not found to warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, effective from March 6, 1995, through June 30, 1998, or July 1, 1998. For the left knee, no higher evaluation was granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the current rating of 10% is appropriate given the limited range of motion and lack of instability or subluxation.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right heel spurs, right hip condition, right knee condition, low back condition, and right shoulder condition are all secondary to his service-connected residuals of strain to the medial plantar ligament involving the first metatarsal joint of the right foot. The decision is mixed as some conditions have been granted while others were denied.

The veteran's claim for hypertension service connection is denied. The Board finds no competent evidence linking the current diagnosis of hypertension to his period of military service or continuity of symptomatology after service. The only medical opinion indicates that the veteran's hypertension is not related to service. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim. The veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 20 percent, and a VA examination is required for further assessment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, secondary to his service-connected left leg disability, and denied his requests for increased ratings for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg and left peroneal nerve impairment.