Knee Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the right knee injury with residual laxity, but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The VA determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of a lateral meniscectomy of the left knee, which is currently rated at 10 percent, do not warrant an increase in evaluation.

The veteran's left knee disability, including his total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2000. The RO has not yet determined the appropriate evaluation for his pre-existing osteoarthritis prior to September 27, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right wrist, left wrist, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to her active service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for right ear hearing loss or left knee sprain, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The increased evaluation claim for left ear hearing loss is also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, which was previously denied in 1992. The veteran's statements attributing his current bilateral knee disability to a fall during service are considered new and significant.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from chronic right knee or right ankle disabilities, nor does he have PTSD. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for a seizure disorder is pending, as are his pension benefits claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right knee disabilities, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed low back, left hip, and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal was timely and adequate, allowing for the continuation of his existing disability ratings.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma incurred in service. The RO granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to noise trauma during service.

The October 31, 1969 rating decision correctly assigned a 100 percent evaluation for anatomical loss of both feet and special monthly compensation on account of anatomical loss of both lower extremities at levels or with complications preventing natural knee action with prostheses in place.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial evaluation for his right knee disability and service connection of a left knee disorder secondary to his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee warrants a 10 percent disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe as to prevent him from engaging in substantial gainful employment.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the veteran has residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative joint disease, status post arthroplasty, which was incurred during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's right and left knee disorders are each rated at 10 percent disabling, resulting in a combined evaluation of 20 percent for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating based on the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is moot as the veteran's conditions are already rated appropriately.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on all the listed issues was dismissed due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding no evidence of a current condition and no link to service.