Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any left knee disorder and whether it was incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service or any presumptive exposure. The Board also noted that the current disorder is not related to a service injury.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that his current right knee disability was not proximately caused by VA treatment and was instead attributable to his failure to follow instructions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee is being remanded due to a lack of cooperation during a previous VA examination and the need for additional medical evidence.

The RO granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the service-connected right knee disorder effective from November 15, 1999. The appeal for a higher rating for this condition continues.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the appellant's psychiatric condition and hearing loss, as well as his left knee disorder. The VA will need to obtain additional evidence from the appellant and provide him with a supplemental statement of the case if benefits are not granted.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 30 percent each, but the Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to changes in the law and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities do not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, and his sinusitis does not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected arthritis, left knee and right knee disabilities. The RO had previously assigned a 10% disability rating for each knee.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current right knee disorder to his service, and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for an increased rating for his right elbow fracture with traumatic arthritis.

The veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia with instability and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 30 percent. His hearing loss of the left ear remains noncompensable.

The veteran's service-connected left total knee arthroplasty was granted a 60 percent evaluation for the period prior to September 9, 1997. For the period on and after February 1, 1999, he is entitled to a 60 percent evaluation.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of migraine headaches with blackouts, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder. The veteran's current conditions are deemed to have been incurred during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and the evaluation of post-operative lumbar decompression laminectomy with arthritis and sciatic/spasms. The March 20, 1981 rating decision was not found to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to December 1998, and from February 1, 1998 to December 8, 1998, but granted a separate 30 percent evaluation for DJD of the right knee during this period. The claim for a higher rating after December 8, 1998 was also denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a left leg injury due to new and material evidence submitted by the appellant. The case is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.