Knee Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of chronic low back, left knee, or right ankle disorders during service. The veteran's current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for low back disorder, lung disorder (asthma/reactive airways disease), and left knee disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his period of honorable active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee injury and service connection for generalized degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on instability or secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities were granted, with a 20 percent evaluation assigned for each knee. The claim for service connection for actinic keratoses (claimed as skin cancer) was also granted and reopened on the basis of new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings for various conditions, including a right arm disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, skin disorder, ankle disorders, knee meniscal tear, and left knee strain. The appeals were based on evidence not related to any presumptive exposure or previously service-connected condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected total right knee replacement, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right knee disability is not related to his service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The RO had previously granted these conditions with effective dates of February 5, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current disabilities and events during military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, finding that the current disability ratings adequately reflect the severity and symptoms of his knee conditions.

The veteran was granted a separate compensable rating for arthritis with painful or limited motion of the right knee effective November 12, 1991. The RO held that he was entitled to a separate compensable rating based on X-ray findings and painful motion under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59. He was also granted an increased rating for arthritis with painful or limited motion of the right knee effective April 16, 1996.

The VA has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disability, but denied an increased rating. The initial evaluation assigned is 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are rated at less than 60% combined, and there is no evidence that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to increased evaluation for his shell fragment wound of the right thigh, service connection for Crohn's Disease, and service connection for a right knee disorder. The rating for the right thigh disability remains at 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee arthritis is being remanded due to errors in the development process and lack of compliance with VCAA requirements.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for a right hip disability has been denied as there is no medical nexus between the current right hip condition and service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for evidence corroborating the veteran's assertions of knee injuries in service and for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, back, and hip disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service, or related to his service-connected right femur fracture.

The Board has remanded the case for further medical examination to assess the nature of the veteran's scars and readjudicate the claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his traumatic arthritis of the left knee and residuals of left knee arthroscopy, as these conditions are considered to be decided on the merits without involving any service connection issues.