Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from a right knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from the date of the claim. The issue of service connection for right leg shortening is also addressed.

The Board denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent evaluations for service-connected chondromalacia of the right and left knees, as well as for service-connected greater trochanteric bursitis of the hips.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable original rating for his left knee disability and bilateral bunions. The claim for a compensable rating pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 based upon multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities was dismissed.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability and awarded an effective date of September 29, 2000. The issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the low back disability is pending.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU. The claim of service connection for hypertension is denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in service.

The Board denied higher initial evaluations for early, mild degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees as there was no evidence of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, and the veteran's complaints were not supported by objective findings.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition and a back condition, finding that the veteran's conditions were not caused by his service-connected right knee replacement.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected total left knee replacement, effective from April 5, 1999 through May 31, 2000.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 1, 2001 for the grant of service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left lower extremity and right above-the-knee amputation. The veteran's petition to reopen his claim was received within one year of the liberalizing regulation that added organic residuals of frostbite as a presumptive disease for former prisoners of war.

The Board found that the veteran's left leg disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there was no significant pathology or interference with employment. The case is denied.

The case is being returned to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a member of the Board.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right knee, hip, and spine disabilities are not service-connected. The chronic right knee disorder is considered to be a direct result of an injury in service, while the right hip and spine disabilities are not shown to have been present during or within one year after service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left knee injury with postoperative chondromalacia is being remanded due to the need for additional development and a hearing before a Member of the Board.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee with total knee arthroplasty warrants a 30 percent evaluation, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5261 for limitation of motion of the knee. The appeal was denied as there were no additional issues or conditions to be addressed.

The veteran's left knee conditions are currently rated at 10 percent, with no more than slight limitation of motion and instability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his degenerative joint disease of the left knee, residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left leg (Muscle Group XI), and status post surgery of the left knee. The current ratings are deemed appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of service medical records and other procedural issues. The veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed for possible connection to service, but no presumptive exposure basis or new evidence was provided.