Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's low back and right knee conditions do not warrant an increased rating or a separate compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for additional development to determine if his service-connected left knee disorder aggravated his right knee disorder.

The Board found that the March 1956 rating decision did not involve clear and unmistakable error regarding service connection for left knee disability. The veteran's increased evaluation claim for traumatic arthritis of the left knee was denied as his current disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current conditions, including arthritis of the lumbar spine, arthritis of the left knee, and left shoulder impingement syndrome, are related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for these disabilities.

The VA denied service connection for a left knee disorder and did not reopen the PTSD claim due to lack of new evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the hands, knees, and spine due to new evidence submitted. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining treatment records from Dr. Durham and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for disability compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied due to a lack of evidence in the claims file, particularly clinical records from his hospitalization and outpatient treatment prior to August 20, 1997.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability and a compensable evaluation for his residual shrapnel wound scars of the right hand.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision denying an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee trauma with residual pain is not final and requires further development before a determination can be made.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected psychophysiological musculoskeletal reaction involving the back, left knee and both thumbs is being remanded to allow for additional development of his case.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left knee, Muscle Groups XIV and XV, with retained foreign bodies is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The RO must arrange for VA examinations by orthopedists and neurologists to assess functional impairment and pain.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions and to adjudicate his increased rating claims. The RO must obtain all relevant medical records, arrange for appropriate examinations, and then consider the claims on their merits.

The veteran's disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and he is employed as a lab director at a water treatment plant. Therefore, his claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, weakness of the left arm, headaches, residuals of a stress fracture of the left foot, right knee strain, and left ankle strain are denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee, effective from April 1996.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities, with a total rating based on individual unemployability. The right knee disability is rated at 30 percent disabling, while the left knee injuries are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for right ankle and knee disabilities, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, but denied his request for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the award of TDIU should be February 23, 1990, as this is the earliest date on which a claim was filed. The veteran's service-connected disabilities met the percentage requirements for TDIU from June 8, 1990.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized as post-operative residuals of an osteochondral fracture and partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, warrants a 30 percent rating since August 7, 1990.