Knee Board decisions

The Board has restored the veteran's service connection for right knee chondromalacia, finding that the severance of this condition was improper.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a 10 percent rating, effective August 28, 1991. The decision also notes that there is additional disability due to traumatic arthritis of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right below the knee amputation and amputation of left toes, both claimed as secondary to frostbite, are denied. The claim for service connection for head pain is also denied due to lack of evidence supporting a direct link to service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and a left knee disorder, finding no competent medical evidence of current disorders or links to service.

The Board granted increased evaluations for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle and a below-the-knee amputation, with the highest possible evaluation of 40% assigned for the amputation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted relative to the service connection claim for a right knee disability secondary to the service connected left knee disability, thus granting the reopening of this claim.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disorder was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hip disabilities and denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for his visual disorder of the right eye, low back disorder, and degenerative arthritis of the knees. The claim for right shoulder traumatic arthritis was granted with an initial evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for scheduling a hearing before a traveling Member of the Board. The claims related to service connection and disability ratings are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disorder did not develop during service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's residuals of a total right knee arthroplasty meet the criteria for a 60 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a back injury are rated at 50 percent, effective November 1995. His service-connected residuals of a right knee injury are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, and denied the claim. The Board also determined that depression was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 10 percent for the service-connected arthritis of both the right and left knees, effective from October 20, 1994.

The veteran's low back strain and left knee arthritis are rated at 10 percent each, with the Board granting increased ratings to 20 percent for both conditions.

The Board finds that the appellant's left knee disability, diagnosed as internal derangement with a torn medial meniscus and arthritis, is likely attributable to his period of military service.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus was denied. The issue of entitlement to TDIU based on secondary service connection for bilateral pes planus, degenerative changes in feet and knees, back, and hip problems is also pending.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disability and denied his claim for service connection.