Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's request for an extension of a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 prior to June 25, 1999 and beyond July 31, 1999 due to lack of evidence supporting such an assignment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and notification of the VCAA requirements.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder due to lack of evidence showing such an injury or disease in service. Service connection was not granted for the veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders as further medical examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for medial meniscectomy of the right knee and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and right hip disabilities, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also addressed an initial rating for the service-connected right ankle disability and TDIU benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 21, 2002, for a 20% disability rating for his right knee injury. The evidence did not show that he met the criteria for this rating before that date.

The veteran's combined disability rating for his left knee conditions (residuals of a left knee injury and degenerative arthritis) is currently at 30 percent. He seeks an increased rating, but the current ratings are considered appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims. The veteran was also denied service connection for hepatitis.

The Board has remanded the veteran's PTSD and TDIU claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the veteran for a comprehensive psychiatric and orthopedic examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no medical evidence of a nexus between his current condition and any incident of service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain of the left knee and left shoulder, as well as back pain, are denied. The Board found that these conditions were not related to active service or any known clinical diagnosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claims. The veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5203, but not meeting criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee anterior cruciate ligament repair warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as there is no evidence of instability or subluxation. The veteran's bilateral pterygium does not warrant any compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects in the VCAA notice and the citation of the current version of the regulatory definition of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 21, 2002 for a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right femur at mid-shaft with degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was previously denied in 1991 and not appealed. The RO granted the claim effective September 18, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee disorder was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder (secondary to left knee disorder), and low back disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.