Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left and right knee disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his postoperative left knee chondromalacia patella and service connection for a right knee meniscus tear secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The veteran was previously granted a 10% disability rating in November 1990, which was later increased to 20% effective October 31, 2000.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her left total knee replacement, which is secondary to her service-connected left knee arthritis, has been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the veteran, and it will be reviewed again with consideration of this additional medical evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee replacement and TDIU will be reconsidered after these actions.

The veteran's combined rating of 70 percent for his service-connected disabilities was revised to 90 percent due to CUE in the February 10, 1949 rating decision. The effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is set at December 6, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, including arthritis, is not due to a disease or injury incurred in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and a higher rating for his left knee disorder and dorsal spine disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation during service.

The veteran's right femur fracture residuals are currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased rating is denied. For financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle or adaptive equipment, the criteria have not been met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence showing a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee condition more nearly approximated the criteria for residuals of a knee replacement, warranting a combined rating of 60 percent prior to March 14, 2003. From May 1, 2004, the RO assigned a separate 10 percent rating for instability under Diagnostic Code 5257 in addition to the 60 percent rating for residuals of total right knee replacement.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. The Board also found that there is at least equipoise evidence regarding whether the current left knee disability was incurred in service, thus granting service connection. For the low back disorder, the January 2002 private orthopedic examination provided competent evidence of a current disability and a link to service, leading to the grant of service connection.

The veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from December 16, 2004. The right ankle scar is rated at 10 percent, also effective from December 16, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the schedular criteria were not met for an evaluation in excess of the current assigned percentages.

The veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent effective from June 1, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability does not warrant a combined rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for right knee disability prior to September 21, 1998, and from November 1, 1998 to November 1, 2001. The claim was also denied for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for right knee disability effective January 1, 2003.