Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, right eye injury residuals, hypertension, stomach disorder, and skin disorders are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a link between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and low back disabilities preexisted service, thus rebutting the presumption of soundness. The veteran did not provide clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut this presumption. Therefore, his claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are likely to have had their onset during active service. As a result, these conditions are granted as being incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his sinus disorder, low back strain, right knee pain syndrome, and left knee pain syndrome are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or other service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, left knee disability, and low back disability are denied as not well grounded. The claim for increased rating of right knee disability is also denied.

The veteran's left knee disorder was initially rated at 20 percent from February 29, 1992 to December 16, 1998. Since then, the disability has been rated at 30 percent effective December 17, 1998.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a bilateral knee disability in service and the veteran's current knee condition is not related to his period of active service. The Board also determined that the veteran's left radial head fracture does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond 10 percent.

The veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disorder must be remanded for a determination as to whether new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the veteran.

The Board finds that the veteran's claim for service connection for right hip disability on a secondary basis is not well grounded. The claim for increased rating of right knee disability has been granted with a 10% evaluation effective from February 1996.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities effectively preclude him from gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected above-the-left-knee amputation does not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment compatible with his level of education and work experience.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder and a noncompensable evaluation for residuals of laceration of the left knee, finding that the appellant's symptoms meet criteria warranting a 100 percent rating due to severe social isolation.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the failure of VA to comply with previous instructions, and a new examination is needed to determine if any current knee disorders are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of the left hip, right hip, and left knee due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service or any incident therein.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disorder warrants a compensable evaluation of 10 percent, while his knee DJD is rated at its maximum allowable under current regulations.

The Board has denied the reopening of both claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychophysiologic musculoskeletal reaction is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected left knee disorder and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as well as a TDIU claim. The veteran appealed these decisions to the Court, which remanded them back to the RO.