Knee Board decisions

Service connection is denied for the claimed conditions. Increased ratings are not granted for any of the disabilities listed.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities of recurrent lumbar strain, right knee status post arthrotomy with internal derangement, and arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and bilateral leg disorder. The claim for pes planus with degenerative joint disease of the right foot remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected pyloric channel ulcer, status post vagotomy and pyloroplasty is currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The left knee replacement disability is rated at 30 percent disabling as of December 17, 2000. The left knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent disabling.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, which includes ACL reconstruction and mild degenerative joint disease, warrants a 30 percent evaluation. The current rating is denied as there are no additional disabilities based on functional loss or other factors.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee chondromalacia warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The evidence shows significant tenderness and limited range of motion in the knee.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination if necessary. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence of record.

The veteran's bilateral knee and ankle disorders were granted service connection, while his low back disorder was denied an increased rating.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if new evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection of a left knee disorder. The veteran's current left knee condition may be related to his service or a previously service-connected disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability, currently rated at 30 percent. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion.

The veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection and an increased evaluation related to his bilateral pes planus, right hip/knee disabilities including arthritis, and plantar fasciitis. The RO must conduct additional development, including obtaining medical records, arranging for a VA examination, and considering the applicability of relevant regulations.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the appellant's lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, reopening his claim to reopen service connection for residuals of shell fragment wounds of the back and left arm, and finding that secondary service connection is warranted for the left wrist disorder.

The Board granted higher disability ratings for the veteran's service-connected left tibia and fibula fracture, thoracic spine fracture, and left knee injury. The right shoulder claim remains at issue.

The Board denied service connection for eye disability, leg and knee disabilities, and the veteran's claim to reopen his spine disability. The evidence did not support a finding of any current disability related to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, back disorder, and ulcer disorder due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or their onset within one year after service.

The Board found that the veteran's post-operative residuals of a right knee injury have not objectively resulted in extension limited to 15 degrees, flexion limited to 30 degrees or moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. Therefore, the schedular criteria for an increased rating, in excess of 10 percent, were not met.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board granted an increased rating of 10 percent for service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee and a 20 percent rating for service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee, effective from November 14, 1996.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chronic right leg, right knee, and right hip disabilities in October 1997. The case was remanded multiple times by the Board but the issues were not fully addressed.