Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board dismissed the claim as the appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar disc disease warrants a 40 percent evaluation, and his postoperative residuals of a left knee medial meniscus tear warrant a 20 percent evaluation. The TDIU issue is also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for head and right knee injuries, finding that his injuries were not caused by VA treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding no current diagnosis of such a condition and noting that the veteran had not provided competent medical evidence linking his current symptoms to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for arthritis of the knees, finding no new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's appeals for a total rating under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 and § 4.30 for his hospitalization in February 1991, as well as an effective date prior to March 18, 1991, are denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a new examination. The RO will re-evaluate his service-connected right knee disability in light of the newly acquired evidence.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for post-operative residuals of right knee injury, but denied an increased evaluation. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for traumatic arthritis and painful motion of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities do not warrant a compensable rating, while his service-connected right (major) and left (minor) wrist disabilities are also rated as noncompensable.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability. The issue is currently before the Board as it pertains to reopening the original claim, not determining the merits of the service connection.

The Board denied increased evaluations for postoperative residuals of a left hip injury and postoperative residuals of a left knee injury, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 40 percent and 10 percent evaluations.

The veteran's death was due to renal failure. The appellant paid for the funeral expenses, but there were no accrued benefits as the veteran had no pending claims and no unpaid benefits at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257, as there is no evidence of moderate impairment with recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and burns to both eyes. The claim for tinea cruris was partially granted with a 10% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disorder and left knee disorder are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection. The increased evaluation claim was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and ratings for various disabilities, including residuals of a right elbow injury, headaches as due to undiagnosed illness, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, chronic right ankle sprain, low back pain, and pulmonary restrictive disease.

The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 40 percent, and the claim for increased evaluation of his right ankle fusion with traumatic arthritis is granted. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, a back disorder, and a disorder of the knees are also granted as secondary to his right ankle disability.

The Board found that the appellant's pre-existing right knee condition existed prior to his military service and did not worsen during active duty. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.