Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a chronic right palm, elbow, or knee condition. The veteran's service records do not support the claims for these conditions. However, the veteran was granted an initial noncompensable rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for the loss of the left ovary and a left knee disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the service-connected schizophrenic disorder, residual type, with depression. The veteran's service-connected residuals of shrapnel wounds left knee are rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, and his left knee disability is also rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of instability or cartilage damage. The functional impairment due to arthritis is considered the basis for the current ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing service origin or aggravation.

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

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for reinstated VA compensation benefits was denied as the evidence did not show that he had a compensable right knee disability prior to February 9, 1996.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder, which includes chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease, does not warrant a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned.

The veteran was granted a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes effective March 3, 1998. The decision is based on various disabilities including postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, impairment of the left knee, hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee pain. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is pending.

The veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation at the intermediate rate between subsection (m) and (n) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114, but not higher.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The rating for the right knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and a right knee disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for left knee injury with traumatic arthritis. The decision also noted that the issue of whether the right knee disorder is aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability has not been addressed.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee injury, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current knee disabilities are not service-connected, and his hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux is currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for higher evaluation remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and traumatic arthritis of the left knee, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and back disability were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence showing a link between current conditions and service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were not well grounded, as there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.