Knee Board decisions

The Board denied an increased rating for chondromalacia of the left knee with degenerative changes, medial meniscus tear, and tendinitis, and a higher initial evaluation for slight laxity of the left knee. The veteran's disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such nature and severity as to prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of his left knee disorder, determining that April 17, 1996 is the earliest date entitlement arose.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. However, the claims for all other conditions remain denied as there is no current evidence of these disorders or their association with active military service.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 20 percent for ACL deficiency of the right knee prior to November 13, 2001 and assigned a separate rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing right knee injury did not increase in severity during service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative left knee impairment and painful osteoarthritic changes of the left knee do not warrant higher evaluations based on current evidence.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic acquired disorder of the right knee linked to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee, right foot, and fractured sternum and second rib disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and assigned a 20 percent disability rating. Service connection was denied for bilateral knee disorder, left hand disorder, bilateral wrist disorder, and right ear otitis media and externa.

The Board denied a claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral arthritis of the knees, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement surgery, warrants a 60 percent rating based on severe painful motion and weakness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's appeal on the issue of service connection for a left knee disorder secondary to his service-connected disability of subtrochanteric fracture, left femur, or peroneal nerve deficit is dismissed as moot due to the RO's recharacterization and grant of service connection. The separate evaluation issue remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, both knees, and back are reasonably shown to have been caused by his service-connected left ankle sprain with hypertrophic changes.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the service-connected right knee injury residuals, finding that the current 20% rating adequately compensates the veteran's complaints of pain and range of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability related to his active service and thus, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there is no current disability and thus no basis for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for a right knee contusion was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board found that the veteran's VA compensation benefits were properly reduced due to his election to receive FECA benefits for his right knee disability, and denied the claim based on application of the law.