Knee Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right knee and ankle disabilities were denied as there was no evidence to support the secondary relationship between his service-connected left knee disability and these conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition due to new and material evidence, but finds that there is no evidence of a chronic right knee condition or injury in service. The Board also found that the medical opinion linking the current right knee condition to service was not probative.

The Board found that the veteran did not have chronic right knee symptoms in service and there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition. The current right knee disorder is considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disability, manifested by strain with synovitis, swelling and a thickened ACL, is due to an injury sustained during his military service. By extending the benefit of doubt to the veteran, the claim for service connection is granted.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background, thus denying her claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's leg and knee problems are not related to her service or a service-connected condition, including her low back disability. Therefore, she is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back and knee disabilities are not related to his service.,Service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, or left knee disability cannot be established as they are not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has determined that the previously denied claims for service connection have not been reopened with new and material evidence, and thus remain denied.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for residuals of a fracture of the left tibia and fibula, with arthritis of the left knee and ankle, status post tibial osteotomy and left total knee replacement was denied. The claims for service connection for a right total knee replacement and residuals of burns to the hands, wrists, face, and eyes were also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of instability or dislocation. The current ratings are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The veteran's PTSD claim was granted with an initial 50% rating.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral epicondylitis of the elbows, but denied both the original claim for this condition and the separate claim for arthritis of the knees.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or any link to service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disorders, as well as hypertension and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or show that these conditions were incurred in service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of right shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities in March 1992, but these decisions became final. The veteran is now requesting that his claims be reopened.,New evidence has been submitted to support both right shoulder and bilateral knee disability claims.

The veteran's right knee instability due to degenerative arthritis has been rated at 10 percent since June 1, 2001.