Knee Board decisions

The Board denied reopening of the veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence submitted was not considered new and material.

The veteran's service-connected left knee, cervical spine arthritis, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine are all rated at their maximum levels. The veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's heart disability, duodenal ulcer, lung disability (spot on lung), right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability. The headaches were also not granted as service-connected.

The veteran's appeal was denied for multiple conditions, including service connection claims and rating increases.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability manifested by instability warranted a 10 percent rating prior to April 30, 2001, and a 20 percent rating from April 30, 2001. The initial rating for arthritis of the left knee was granted at 10 percent effective July 7, 1995.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased evaluation for his left knee disability, which was currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development of the record, including obtaining a social and industrial survey report and copies of treatment records. The veteran's right knee disability will be considered for an extra-schedular evaluation and TDIU benefits.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, which includes post-operative meniscectomy and traumatic arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds no evidence of subluxation or lateral instability to justify a higher rating.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including internal derangement of the right knee, hiatal hernia with minimal esophageal reflux, tear of the left medial meniscus, chronic fatigue syndrome, tinnitus, and varicosities of the left lower leg, are considered productive of total disability as of September 17, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right ankle strain with arthritis due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran knowingly submitted false medical certifications to gain increased compensation benefits, leading to forfeiture of his VA benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's current left leg and knee disabilities are not related to his service, including a 1954 jeep accident. The claim was denied as there is no medical evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of a right knee injury, finding that the evidence did not support a higher than 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities, but denied an increased rating for his low back disability. The head injury with headaches, ringing of the ears, and occasional double vision is rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected residuals of a left patellectomy with psychophysiologic musculoskeletal reaction or low back syndrome. The veteran's right knee disorder was determined to be unrelated to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, left knee disability, and left ankle and foot disability. The right heel disability is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal on the issues of whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for myositis of the right leg/knee, a bilateral knee disorder, and a right ankle/leg disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the current condition began during active duty. Service connection for bilateral shin splints was denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 9, 1998 for the award of TDIU and denied entitlement to specially adapted housing.

The Board found that the right below-the-knee amputation was not caused by VA medical treatment, and thus denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.