Knee Board decisions

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a total rating due to unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a rating of 20 percent for synovitis and arthritis, with functional loss due to pain. The current 20 percent evaluation is maintained.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic back disorder and left knee arthritis, but denied both on the merits due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing right knee disorder, chondromalacia patella, was aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. As a result, the veteran is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability, which included degenerative joint disease and residuals of a right knee injury from April 1, 1998 to July 8, 2001, did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent due to lack of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The veteran's disability was rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right shoulder, and low back disabilities due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty service.

The appellant's claim for a certificate for specially adapted housing and/or home adaptation grant was denied because he did not meet the criteria based on blindness or loss of use of the upper extremities. The appeal is also remanded to address new claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's left knee medial meniscectomy, finding that it meets the criteria for recurrent lateral instability. The right total knee replacement continues at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right lower extremity disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is related to an inservice injury and has therefore established service connection for this condition.

The veteran's scars of the right thumb and left knee are found to be service-connected. The veteran's DeQuervain's tendinitis, right thumb, and osteoarthritis of the left knee are not found to be service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, genital herpes, and a right thigh contusion. The veteran is assigned a noncompensable rating for his cervical spine disability.

The VA has denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that symptomatology associated with the veteran's right knee most nearly approximates moderate impairment and does not warrant a higher rating under DC 5257.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart condition. The veteran's arthritis of the left knee is also denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing it existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for his shell fragment wound scars of the left cheek and buttocks. The RO is directed to schedule the veteran for VA examinations to determine if he has any of the claimed disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU are denied. The RO must review these claims again after considering the additional evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic acquired left knee disorder, finding no medical evidence linking her current condition to her military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a low back disability incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. For his right knee disability, he was granted an initial rating of 10% but denied any increase to higher ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities, as well as her claim to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection of a left hip disability. The low back disability was also denied. The veteran is currently rated at 20% for both knees combined.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied. The decision states that the veteran had been gainfully employed from June 1995 to June 1998, and his last day of employment was May 30, 1998.