Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain and chondromalacia of both knees, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a bilateral knee disorder due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for chondromalacia of the right knee, finding that the current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of her disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a neck injury and residuals of a left knee injury, finding that the evidence did not warrant higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board finds that the veteran's gout, chondromalacia of the left knee, and chondromalacia of the right knee do not warrant an initial compensable rating under VA regulations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his diabetes mellitus and knee disorders.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a personal hearing and a prehearing conference.

The VA denied an increased rating for internal derangement of the left knee, but granted a compensable evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the left knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 3, 1996 for the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound status. The decision stated that there was no prior claim and that the veteran did not meet the criteria for benefits at the 'housebound' rate under 38 U.S.C.A. 1114(s).

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Dallas VAMC and requesting an opinion on whether the veteran's disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's symptoms of instability in his left knee are moderate, warranting a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5257. A higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not support severe instability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for PTSD, residuals of bilateral arm fractures, dermatologic condition including hair loss, and right knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence has been received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and an increased evaluation for her right knee disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board denied the claims for higher initial ratings for instability as a residual of a left knee meniscus tear and limited extension of the left knee, finding that additional evidence was needed to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, PTSD, and current conditions of dyshidrotic dermatitis of the hands and acne vulgaris are all granted. However, his right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for residuals, right knee surgery with removal of loose bodies with instability. The veteran's DJD of the right knee is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or severe impairment in the right wrist, and thus denied a higher evaluation for right forearm tendonitis. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no indication that it has presented such an unusual disability picture requiring an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right knee disability warrants a 40 percent evaluation, reflecting significant functional impairment and pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities (herniated cervical disc at C5-C6 and degenerative disc disease at L4-L5).