Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the new evidence was not material.

The Board granted an effective date of November 22, 1994 for the assignment of a 60 percent rating for service-connected limitation of motion of the lumbar spine, status post surgery, with disc disease and neuropathy. The TDIU was also granted but not earlier than November 22, 1994.

The veteran withdrew his appeals concerning all issues on appeal, including increased ratings for service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, left hip, right knee, and left knee with fracture of the femur.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA orthopedic examination and consideration of separate ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. The veteran's claims for extra-schedular evaluation and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee condition is not related to her service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a left knee, left wrist, or right foot injury or disability during service and no post-service medical evidence supports the veteran's claims for these conditions. As such, the claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration of the right eye, bilateral knee condition, and residuals of basal cell carcinoma. The issues were not about service connection at all.

The veteran's right ankle disorder is currently rated at 10 percent since June 10, 1998. The claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.,The veteran's right knee disorder was initially rated at zero percent from June 10, 1998 to November 21, 2004 and is now rated at 20 percent since November 22, 2004. The claim for a higher initial rating remains denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disorder, warranting service connection for this condition.

The veteran's total combined rating of 80 percent for service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities, including his partial amputations and shoulder conditions, meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for his service-connected right knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction residuals and arthritis. Therefore, he cannot be granted an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for low back pain with degenerative changes, effective March 23, 2003. The other issues have not been resolved and remain pending.

The Board has determined that a 60 percent evaluation is warranted for right total knee arthroplasty, based on the veteran's symptoms and functional limitations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for a right ankle disability and a separate compensable evaluation for a tender scar over his right knee.

The Board is unable to determine whether the veteran's current patellofemoral arthritis of both knees was caused by service, as there are conflicting medical opinions. The denial for the right knee issue remains in place, but the left knee issue has been reopened and denied.

The Board has denied a claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected internal derangement of the left knee, currently rated at 20 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for her right knee Baker's cyst, finding that there were no skin manifestations or other functional impairment.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of an increased evaluation for left ear tinnitus.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The right knee conditions were evaluated at a combined 20 percent rating.,The veteran's right knee medial meniscectomy with synovitis and instability is currently manifested by severe residual impairment, warranting a separate 30 percent evaluation.