Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for post-operative osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee, finding that the current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability and PTSD were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's statutory period of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation under Chapter 31 has expired, and the criteria for extension of that period for purposes of retroactive induction into a vocational rehabilitation training program for payment of a Juris Doctor degree are not met.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including right knee degenerative arthritis, cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative joint disease, tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, and alcohol dependence, do not render him unemployable due to his back and neck problems. His combined evaluation is 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no objective evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current left knee disorder is not related to military service.

The veteran's right knee disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation for severe right knee ligament instability. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no limitation of motion or ankylosis that would warrant such a rating.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been granted, with the highest rating of 20 percent assigned for his left shoulder disability.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability evaluation for the appellant's left knee disability, effective from January 31, 2002. The compensable rating for residuals of tonsillectomy remains unchanged.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a rating of 30 percent from June 19, 1997 to January 20, 1999, 20 percent from April 1, 1999 to February 28, 2002, and noncompensable since March 1, 2002.

The Board found that the appellant's injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on August 12, 1967 were not incurred in the line of duty and therefore denied service connection for residuals of those injuries.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and disability compensation for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, finding that no such claim was filed within one year after separation from active duty.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current left or right knee disorders related to her service, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities are a result of his continuous training as a parachutist while on active duty, and thus service connection is granted.

The VA has granted increased evaluations of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities, effective December 8, 2001. The veteran's conditions are rated under the criteria for patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warranted a higher rating prior to his total knee replacement, but not following the surgery.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left femur fracture residuals is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate a request to reopen claims for service connection for left knee and left hip disorders, which are inextricably intertwined with the current claim. The VA examiner's report regarding the relationship between the veteran's left knee and hip conditions and his service-connected left femur fracture needs clarification.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for pes planus and also denied secondary service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, status post bilateral knee replacements; bilateral ankle disorders, including arthritis; and arthritis of the feet, hips, back and arms as secondary to pes planus.

The Board has granted an evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, effective from the date of his original claim in May 1995.