Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 16, 2001 for his TDIU due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he was unemployable prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion with pain and productive functional loss, warrants a 10 percent rating from May 29, 2001.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee is presumed to have been sound at the time of entry into service and that right knee symptoms were in fact manifested during his service. The current chronic degenerative joint disease of the right knee is found to be causally related to the inservice right knee symptoms, warranting service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, headaches, and low back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's knee and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred. The evidence does not support a finding of chronic disability in service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his left knee, lower back pain, and ankle disorders was denied. The issues involving service connection were not addressed.,For the postoperative residuals of the left knee with degenerative changes, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 12, 2000 and on and after that date is not warranted.

The veteran's right knee disability, manifested by moderate instability, is currently rated at 20 percent for recurrent lateral instability of the right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for her service-connected neck injury, right knee pain, and pes planus. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for her residuals of a neck injury.

The veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total disability rating beyond November 1, 1995 following his August 1995 right knee surgery was denied as he did not meet the criteria for such extension.

The VA has denied service connection for the veteran's claimed bilateral knee disabilities and sleep disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for varicose veins of the left leg and osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of the veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the right leg.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee injury and granted service connection for residuals of a left thoracic area gunshot wound, rated at 20 percent. The veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a left knee shell fragment wound, which was previously denied in November 1989. The veteran's statements regarding his combat experience at Iwo Jima are sufficient to establish the incurrence of the shrapnel wound.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current left knee disability, including arthritis, that was initially manifested during his active duty for training. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and hip disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely file a Substantive Appeal regarding his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a dental disability caused by VA treatment, and thus lacks jurisdiction to review this issue. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for psoriatic arthritis of the left thumb, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee were denied as they did not meet the criteria for the assigned rating levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus with calluses, arthritis of the left shoulder, and arthritis of both knees. The Board found no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.