Knee Board decisions

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's post-operative right knee condition, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of multiple joints, but it is unclear whether this evidence supports a finding of service connection due to the mixed disposition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fatal right lung broncheoalveolar cell carcinoma was not incurred in service or a result of any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for residuals of a right knee injury. However, the claims for hypertension with heart disease and other conditions have been denied as there is no evidence showing service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not increase in severity during service and was therefore not aggravated by service. The right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the veteran contends an increase in severity warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected knee disorders, with effective dates ranging from February 1, 1994 to June 1, 1995.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability, manifested by moderate instability and no radiographic evidence of arthritis, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected right knee disability and declined to reopen the claim of service connection for chronic low back disability. The veteran's thoracic spine disability was rated at 10 percent, based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's left knee injury residuals, finding that the current level of impairment is moderate. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for a tender post-surgical scar.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disorder, and thus grants secondary service connection for the right knee disorder.

The veteran's left knee condition was initially rated at 10 percent prior to February 21, 1997. Since April 1, 1997, the disability has been rated at 20 percent.,Prior to February 21, 1997, the veteran had no more than slight impairment of his left knee due to pain and degenerative changes without any evidence of instability or subluxation. Since April 1, 1997, he has experienced moderate functional impairment with pain, crepitus, instability, and limitation of flexion.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion.

The veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the knees, hips, neck, and hands as well as bronchitis have been granted. The claim for higher rating for gastroesophageal reflux has also been granted with a 30% evaluation effective from September 1991.

The veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination, is necessary to properly adjudicate the claim.

The veteran's service-connected tension and migraine headaches are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board denied increased ratings for the appellant's right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a back disability secondary to his knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensation benefits, as well as his request for an effective date. The appeals were not successful.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no medical evidence showing that the disability was incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty. The other claims were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD, service connection for a left knee disorder and low back condition, as well as reopening of his hearing loss disorder claim. The decision is final.

The veteran's bilateral knee condition is service-connected and rated as noncompensable. The scars, right and left calves, residuals of shell fragment wounds are also rated as noncompensable. The veteran's tinnitus is not compensably disabling. The veteran's PTSD warrants a rating in excess of 30 percent.