Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability and right leg burn residuals are service-connected. The initial evaluation for cervical spine disability is granted at a 10 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected heart disorder did not contribute to his death or accelerate it. The cause of death was determined to be esophageal cancer, which began due to chronic reflux issues related to his service-connected conditions and aggravated by medications for those conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and found no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1971 rating decision.

The veteran was granted TDIU benefits effective from March 18, 1993, the date of his claim for higher evaluations due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee, but denied an increased evaluation for chondromalacia of the left knee with a history of recurrent subluxation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his hypertension and varicose veins, as well as service connection for right and left knee disorders. The veteran was not granted a compensable rating for pterygium of the left eye.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, residuals of meniscectomy. The highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 5257 is 30 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, claimed as secondary to a service-connected right knee. The appeal is granted on this basis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim and determined that a current bilateral knee disability existed prior to service, thus granting service connection based on a presumption of soundness at entry into active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and bilateral pes planus with DJD were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for her right knee condition and service connection for bladder infection, urinary incontinence, and cervical spine injury were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation or service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee synovitis, finding that his disability did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a psychiatric disability, back disability, or knee disability that was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left knee was denied. The claims for higher rating and convalescence following surgery were also denied.

The veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations have been granted, with the highest evaluation of 20 percent assigned for his residuals of an excision of the left knee retropatellar fat pad. The other issues remain at their current non-compensable levels.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back, right leg (to include right knee), cervical spine, and psychiatric disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's postoperative residuals of degenerative joint disease of the right knee with total knee replacement, effective from February 1, 1999.

The veteran's left knee disability was rated at 40 percent effective March 20, 2001. The combined rating for instability and limitation of motion is higher than the maximum allowed under Code 5261.