Knee Board decisions

The Board denied all of the veteran's claims, including for increased ratings and a TDIU rating, as her service-connected conditions alone do not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD service connection and request for an increased rating for right knee disorder have been denied. The evidence received since the October 1995 denial does not provide new and material evidence to support reopening of the PTSD claim, and there is no verifiable stressor sufficient to cause PTSD. For the right knee disorder, the current evaluation remains unchanged as it does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including weakness of the left arm and lower extremity secondary to a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), chronic hyperextension of the left knee, and left facial weakness, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied increased evaluations for postoperative residuals of left lateral retinacular release, chondromalacia patella and chondromalacia patella, right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of cold injury and arthritis, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The claims are denied.

The veteran's request for hearings at the RO via videoconference has been noted and will be scheduled. The appeal remains in remand status until further action is taken.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant does not currently have a right knee disability related to service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, finding that there is no medical evidence showing a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has vacated the RO's decision and is considering whether new evidence submitted by the veteran can reopen his claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a jaw injury, right knee disability, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for post-concussion headaches.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disorder, finding that there is no clear evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his right knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for a right knee disability remains denied.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for an earlier effective date for temporary total compensation benefits due to a service-connected condition requiring convalescence has been denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right and left knee disabilities, diagnosed as chondromalacia of the knees, were incurred during her period of military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for a total right knee replacement, finding that the current rating was appropriate based on the veteran's symptoms and functional limitations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and a right knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, characterized by severe symptoms of arthritis with limited motion and pain, warrants a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for hypertension, bursitis of the right hip, spurring of the left knee, and residuals of a left great toe injury with laceration. The appeal regarding service connection for PTSD is also denied.