Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from February 23, 1999. The left knee disability is rated at a noncompensable level.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis as secondary to his right knee disorder and denied his requests for increased ratings for his right knee disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's current hepatitis or right knee disorders were related to military service.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability, but denied entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder and temporary total evaluations for surgical treatment of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, which is currently rated at 20 percent, does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee postoperative torn medial meniscus and traumatic arthritis, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The veteran was found to have moderate recurrent lateral instability in his left knee and mild degenerative changes with effusion.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current ones.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities, finding that the current manifestations do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the back, including damage to Muscle Group XX. The claim for an increased rating for left knee disability other than a service-connected left knee scar was remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 12, 1999 and therefore denied an earlier effective date for her TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no evidence of a left hip disorder or right shoulder/hip disorders related to his active duty service. The right knee condition was found to be productive of mild impairment with degenerative joint disease.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability, which resulted from a previous ACL reconstruction surgery, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent due to moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disability, other than his service-connected left knee scar, was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has restored the veteran's disability evaluation for his left knee injury from 20 percent to 30 percent, effective April 1, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities do not warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's left knee injury residuals as of March 1, 2000. The issue of service connection for arthritis of hands and chronic pulmonary disorder is deferred pending further development.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and right knee disability are service-connected, while his right hip disorder is not. The hypertension was determined to be related to active service, but the right hip disorder does not appear to have a direct link.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for her left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral shin splints, left ovarian cyst and uterine leiomyomata, and allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's service-connected knee and back conditions have been granted increased ratings, effective March 17, 1998. Service connection for cholecystectomy has also been established.