Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, effective December 13, 1995.

The veteran's L5 spondylosis was initially rated at 40 percent prior to October 3, 2000. From that date until July 14, 2003, the disability was rated at 10 percent.,Since July 15, 2003, the veteran's L5 spondylosis has been rated at 20 percent.,The right knee patella femoral syndrome has not been assigned a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not indicate Guillain-Barré syndrome due to a swine flu vaccination, and his acquired psychiatric disorder, syphilis, right foot disability, and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disorder, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's right knee fracture residuals are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee, resulting in an overall rating of 20 percent for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of March 1, 2002 for the award of service connection for fibromyalgia. The claims for chronic back and right knee disorders as well as PTSD have also been granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination of his PTSD and left knee conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a leg disability, as well as his claims for degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees and lumbosacral spine. The decision is final.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized by constant symptoms and minimal limitation of motion, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the claims.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological evaluation and clarification of the veteran's muscle groups involved in his service-connected conditions.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a right knee condition that was incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected iliotibial band tendonitis and greater trochanteric bursitis of the right hip.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral knee condition related to service and denied the veteran's claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various foot, leg, and ankle disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right foot disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his hearing loss claim. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The VA denied increased ratings for the service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the left knee and chronic patellar tendonitis of the right knee, both currently rated at 20% and 10%, respectively.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease. Separate ratings may be assigned if there are additional functional losses or limitations due to arthritis and limitation of motion.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back, left knee, and right ankle disorders is being remanded due to the need for updated examinations and consideration of revised rating criteria.