Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further development before a final decision can be made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee condition is secondary to his service-connected flat feet and granted this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder was incurred during active military duty and granted service connection for a left knee strain.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability during service or within one year after separation, and the current condition is not related to military service.

The veteran's service-connected knee disabilities, including anterior cruciate ligament repairs and arthritis in both knees, are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that the current evaluations do not warrant higher ratings as there is no evidence of more than moderate limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeal for a timely substantive appeal of the denial of an increased evaluation for status post ACL reconstruction of the right knee. The claims for higher ratings for PTSD, patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee), and myofascial lumbosacral spine pain are still pending.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the November 1984 RO decision. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Board has reopened the claim for PTSD due to new and material evidence. The left knee disability remains rated at 20 percent, with a separate rating of 10 percent for arthritis.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied. The RO also determined that his claims for increased evaluations and total rating based on individual unemployability were denied.

The veteran's arthritis of the left knee is service-connected as it was caused by his service-connected fracture of the femur. His arthritis of the left hip does not have a service connection.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective June 7, 1999. The evaluations for his bilateral knee disorders remain at 10 percent.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the veteran's appeal regarding an initial disability rating for his right knee disability is denied. The veteran contends that he should receive a higher disability rating, but the evidence does not support this claim.

The appellant's service-connected left knee disability, prior to May 12, 2000, was primarily manifested by constant pain, crepitus, effusion, and moderate ligamentous laxity. The Board determined that a combined 40 percent evaluation is warranted for the period in question.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of the current 30 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent assigned for instability, residuals of a meniscectomy, and traumatic arthritis with painful motion, respectively.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left knee disorder or a rating in excess of 10 percent for COPD. The veteran's disabilities were rated appropriately based on their current manifestations.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating is warranted for the veteran's right knee disability, and service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to his right knee disability is granted.

The veteran's schizophrenia is rated at 50% disabling, his bilateral hearing loss at 10% disabling, and his left knee disability at 20% disabling. The appeals for increased evaluations are granted.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that it is currently manifested by no more than occasional slight limitation of extension and limited flexion to at most 90 degrees.

The Board found no medical evidence of a currently diagnosed right knee disorder that is related to military service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

Both the right wrist and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10% due to their respective limitations in motion and associated pain. No additional factors warranting higher ratings have been identified.