Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased evaluation from 10 percent to 20 percent for the service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee, effective October 2003.

The Board found that the veteran's current bronchitis is not related to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection. The right and left knee disorders were also not linked to service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee and instability of the left knee, as the evidence did not show more than noncompensable levels of disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence that these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, seizure disorder, hypothyroidism, and joint inflammation of the shoulders, elbows, and right knee were all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder and poliomyelitis were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may arthritis of the right knee be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for poliomyelitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete evidence and legal defects in previous decisions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his low back disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation. The claims for higher ratings are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee osteoarthritis did not warrant a compensable rating from September 22, 1998 through March 7, 1999. From March 8, 1999 onwards, the disability warranted a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as a wrist disability, were denied by the Board. The RO has notified the veteran of the evidence needed to substantiate his claim, and has obtained all necessary evidence.

The VA denied an increased rating for chronic synovitis of the left knee, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, temporomandibular joint disease with headaches, and a left knee disorder. The claim for reopening his bilateral foot disorder was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and continued the current ratings for otitis media (0 percent) and left knee disability (30 percent). The claim for increased rating of left knee disability was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and appendectomy residuals. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims on the merits.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any chronic disabilities involving his wrists, hands, right leg, left knee or low back that were incurred during service. The VA examiner found no significant objective disability in these areas and concluded there was no service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected scars have been rated as noncompensable. The RO has now granted a 10 percent evaluation for the scar residuals of the left upper arm and forearm, effective from November 29, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee arthritis and left ankle strain, finding that there was no evidence of a service-connected disability causing or aggravating these conditions. The highest rating assigned was 10% for each condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection for hepatitis C was not established, while the knee and eye disabilities received appropriate evaluations.

The veteran's right knee disability, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus, was productive of moderate instability and pain during the period from March 23, 2002 to January 30, 2003. A 20 percent rating is granted for this time frame.