Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting right knee disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's right knee disorder, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for his service-connected chondromalacia of both knees, effective from August 5, 1990.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee and instability of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent or a separate compensable rating.

The Board has granted a regulatory total 100 percent evaluation for one year following the implantation of prosthesis on March 24, 2000 for right knee replacement due to service-connected post-traumatic hypertrophic and degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence prior to December 16, 1996 due to the use of a brace not approximating immobilization by cast.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the left knee from August 24, 1992 to February 6, 1996 and denied an increased rating thereafter. The issue of service connection for a back disorder secondary to service-connected left knee disability is pending.

The Board denied an increased rating for Pellegrine Stieda disease of the left knee and did not address service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to lack of development.

The veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The RO denied increased evaluations for her knees and did not reopen her previously denied claims for bilateral hip and ankle disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and secondary service connection, as well as a claim for increased evaluations for left knee disabilities. The veteran's claims will be held in abeyance until completion of the requested actions.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a back disorder, as well as increased ratings for post-operative residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right ankle and a compensable rating for fractures to the fifth metatarsal right foot.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right shoulder, left wrist, right ankle, and both knees. The RO also granted a noncompensable evaluation for his bilateral foot disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left femoral fracture with scars and Muscle Group XV involvement, as well as his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss. The veteran was currently rated at 30 percent for this condition.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee tendinitis and degenerative joint disease do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's knee disabilities did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 22, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for osteoarthritis of both knees are denied as there is no evidence showing that the disabilities meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral chondromalacia of the knees, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder during service and insufficient post-service medical evidence to establish a link between the current condition and service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's initial claim for an evaluation of left testicle torsion was granted, but he is denied service connection for other claimed conditions. The Board found no medical evidence linking the in-service complaints and injuries to current disabilities.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected knee disabilities were denied. The RO continued the existing 10 percent and 20 percent ratings, respectively, for both knees.