Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral pes planus, service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability, service connection for headaches as secondary to flat feet, and service connection for a skin lesion of the left buttock due to microwave radiation exposure. The current status of these claims is pending further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left ankles with below the knee amputation of each, as well as bilateral pes planus. The evidence did not show that these conditions were related to service.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the left knee, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current left knee disability related to service, and arthritis was first demonstrated many years after service. The veteran's bilateral upper leg disability is not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence. The back disability claim also lacks legal merit or entitlement under the law.,There is no evidence showing that the veteran currently suffers from hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board denied an increased rating for a laceration scar on the right knee over the patella and service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the knees.

The veteran is seeking service connection for amputation of the left leg below the knee, claimed as secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis in the left ankle due to an ankle fracture. The case is being remanded for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA C&P examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for residuals of a left knee injury is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee condition, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected left knee injury.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, left knee in March 1997. The veteran's new and material evidence was not sufficient to reopen the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability, finding that the current rating of 20 percent is appropriate based on the evidence showing limitation of motion and swelling but no malunion or instability warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's bilateral knee disorder on a direct basis, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service and no indication that it is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to failure to address whether the duty to assist and the duty to notify had been met.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritic changes of the left knee effective June 19, 2001. The veteran's previous claim was denied in October 1986 due to lack of evidence supporting his claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee disability, post-operative Osgood Schlatters disease, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's tendonitis of the left knee, status post arthroscopic surgery, did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent due to its current manifestations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20 percent evaluation, and his left knee disabilities do not warrant increased evaluations.

The medical evidence shows that the veteran's left knee disability is manifest by arthritis shown by x-ray findings, painful motion, and not more than mild limitation of flexion. The criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent disabling for left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease are not met.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10% for the left knee. The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10%.