Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, while his right knee disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating or restoration of a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, post-proximal tibial osteotomy, warrants a 30 percent evaluation from June 11, 1994 onwards. The current overall degree of disability is rated at 30 percent, with prior disability levels not ascertainable.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the eligibility requirements for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities, as they do not result in loss of use of one or both feet or hands.

The veteran's initial disability evaluations for bilateral pes planus and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right and left knees have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted initial evaluations of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis and instability of the left knee, effective May 21, 1993.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee and shoulder disorders, as well as a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, have been denied. The RO has assigned the highest available rating (10%) for each condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee strain, finding that there is no more than slight instability or subluxation of the knee. The RO previously granted a separate 10 percent rating for hypertrophic arthritis of the left knee.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for a left knee disability during a February 2002 Travel Board hearing.

The Board found no evidence of a current low back or bilateral knee disorder and denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 19, 1993 for a grant of total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of factual ascertainability during the one year period prior to that date.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation for left knee arthritis prior to April 9, 1996 and an extension of temporary total evaluation past August 1, 1996 were not timely filed. The appeal for earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation for status post fusion, left ankle was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee bursitis and chronic lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than those assigned.

The Board has assigned the highest possible schedular disability rating (40 percent) for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine due to severe limitation of motion, and denied higher ratings based on ankylosis or other criteria. The initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the left hip is 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected right knee arthroscopy with traumatic changes and left knee traumatic changes are each rated at 10 percent, while the bilateral degenerative joint disease of the feet is also rated at 10 percent. The veteran does not have any other issues related to service connection.

The Board found that the current evaluations for impairment of the right knee, left knee, and lumbosacral strain do not adequately reflect the severity of the veteran's disabilities. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings have not been met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether separate ratings should be assigned for limitation of motion and instability in his service-connected right knee disorder. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating and extension of a temporary total disability evaluation are also being referred back to the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee total arthroplasty as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture of the distal left fibula and ununited fracture of the internal malleolus. Service connection for pain, numbness, and tingling in both feet is denied as not being related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no basis to grant any of the requested benefits.