Knee Board decisions

The veteran's right ankle disorder is not service-connected. The left knee condition and the right knee disorder are both service-connected, with increased ratings granted for each.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, which fully reflects the impairment due to post-traumatic osteoarthritis with stiffness and fatigability.

The Board found that the veteran's knee disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees is not related to his service-connected bilateral weak/flat feet and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral joint pain and osteochondritis dissecans of both knees, as well as his arthritis of the right knee, were denied. The RO had already granted separate 10 percent ratings for each knee due to their service-connected conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for arthritis of the left knee and ligamentous instability of the left knee, finding that current evaluations were appropriate based on existing evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability or PTB within the scope of service and denied both claims.

The veteran's claim for secondary service connection for numbness of the right foot is denied. The claim for an increased rating for postoperative residuals internal derangement of the right knee is also denied.

The veteran's left knee disability is service-connected and rated at 10 percent. The claim for cysts behind the ears was denied as there is no current evidence of such condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee as secondary to his right knee disabilities and denied increased ratings for both knees. The decision also referred the issue of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee on a secondary basis to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 16, 1994, for a grant of service connection for residuals of an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the left knee. The decision states that there is no legal entitlement to such an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine arthritis with disc disease and residuals of left knee synovitis, as his current conditions are not linked to his period of active duty.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with secondary panic attacks, degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, and shrapnel wound residuals to the back, render him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment. The Board finds that these conditions meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back conditions were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of his left hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee gunshot wound residuals.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was granted effective June 8, 2000.

The veteran's right knee disorder, including postoperative residuals and arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent for the former condition and 10 percent for arthritis. The RO has granted these evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a separate 20 percent rating for pain with limitation of motion, in addition to the previously assigned 20 percent rating based on instability. The overall disability is rated as 40 percent.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD, a 20 percent evaluation for internal derangement with instability of the right knee, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee. The veteran is also entitled to a TDIU.