Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38 of the United States Code because his service-connected left knee disability and tinnitus did not render him unsuitable for employment in his previous occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral knee disorder or a bilateral leg disability incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim is denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding no current evidence of such a condition and noting that there was insufficient evidence to determine if any pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his left knee disability, finding that the current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 24, 1997 for the award of special monthly compensation for the loss of use of both feet was granted. The effective date is set at February 9, 1996.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left leg disability and has determined that new and material evidence has been presented. The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left leg disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen these claims.

The Board has granted effective dates of July 19, 2000 for service connection and evaluations of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, 10 percent for left knee instability, and 10 percent for right knee instability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the claims, including VA examinations and development of medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied an initial disability evaluation higher than 10 percent for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee with patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on instability or other complications.

The veteran's cervical spine arthritis is rated at 10 percent.,Separate ratings of 10 percent each are assigned for the left shoulder, right hip, and left knee. The lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the left hip from March 15, 1996 to December 11, 1996.,The veteran's right hip is rated at 20 percent effective from March 15, 1996.,For the period from March 15, 1996 to January 31, 2000, separate ratings of 10 percent are assigned for arthritis and impairment in both knees. For the period from February 1, 2000 forward, a rating of 20 percent is assigned for arthritis.,The veteran's left knee has been rated at 10 percent since March 15, 1996.,For the period from March 15, 1996 to January 31, 2000, a rating of 10 percent is assigned for arthritis and impairment in both knees. For the period from February 1, 2000 forward, a rating of 20 percent is assigned for arthritis.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of his right and left knee conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disability, finding no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his feet.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain/disability involving the right knee, right ankle, and elbows, to include as due to undiagnosed illness. The left knee was granted service connection based on a current disability related to an in-service injury.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a Baker's cyst of the right knee due to withdrawal by the appellant. The claim for service connection of hypercholesterolemia, secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism, is denied as there is no current disability associated with hypercholesterolemia.

The Board determined that the veteran's left knee disability, manifested by pain and stiffness, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, postoperative left and right foot hammertoe deformities are each rated at 10 percent. The low back strain with herniated nucleus pulposus prior to July 18, 2000 is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected right knee replacement, finding that the residuals do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.