Knee Board decisions

The veteran seeks an effective date earlier than April 17, 1996 for service connection of his left knee disability. The RO granted this claim in February 1999 with a 10% evaluation.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's left knee disability, which includes pain and tenderness from the retained foreign body. The condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to lack of objective clinical evidence of instability or other functional impairment.

The Board has not determined whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD, cancer of the bladder, low back disability, left knee disability secondary to right knee disability, or arthritis of both hands. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy remains pending.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied across multiple issues, including cervical spine, left knee, right radius fracture, jaw injury with TMJ syndrome, and hip fractures. The RO assigned initial non-compensable ratings in June 1991 and revised them to 10 percent effective April 22, 1992.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right knee disability is denied. He was previously awarded a 20 percent rating for the period prior to December 8, 1998 and a 30 percent rating from February 1, 2000.

The Board has granted a 30% evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, which includes instability and ligamentous laxity. The left knee issue remains pending as secondary to the right knee condition.

The veteran's positive tuberculosis test was not incurred in service. Service connection for bilateral knee disability and fibrocystic adenosis is denied as the claims are not well grounded. The veteran's service-connected mitral valve prolapse and low back disability have been granted with initial evaluations of 10% each, effective June 12, 1997.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues are about increased ratings for his right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various claimed disabilities due to insufficient evidence or further development is needed.

The veteran's right leg disorder and low back disorder are service-connected due to aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The skull injury claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 12, 1996 for service connection for status post left knee replacement. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran had filed a claim for this condition earlier.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, and low back sprain. The RO had previously granted service connection for these conditions but did not find them related to active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury as there was no right knee injury in service and no diagnosis within one year after termination of active duty.

The veteran's service-connected healed chip fracture of the right tibia, with traumatic arthritis of the right knee, is currently manifested by a limited range of motion and no instability. The current level of disability does not exceed that for impairment of the tibia involving malunion with marked knee disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the law, including compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims are related to service connection and new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and granted initial noncompensable ratings for left knee disabilities. The veteran's headaches were not found to be related to service, while the left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence demonstrating the presence of arthritis of the knees, ankles, or feet (excluding service-connected arthritis of the right great toe). The veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is manifested by a full range of motion without pain. The veteran's service-connected tendonitis of the left index finger is manifested by slight subjective symptoms without objective indications of disability or functional impairment.