Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and sleep apnea are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for sleep apnea based on VA treatment in 1986 is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for anterior cruciate ligament tear of the left knee, including as secondary to chondromalacia of the left knee. The claim was not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking the current condition to service or service-connected conditions. For the increased rating claim, a 10% rating for chondromalacia of the left knee is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and skin disorder due to exposure to herbicide agents are well grounded. The claim of service connection for PTSD is also considered, as new and material evidence has been presented since the previous denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of a formal or informal claim within one year prior to December 3, 1996.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for right knee arthritis. The other issues regarding increased evaluations and residuals of a fracture are addressed in the remand portion.

The veteran's flatfeet were aggravated by active service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The other claims are denied as not well grounded.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder, effective October 24, 1996. The decision also addressed the issue of an earlier effective date.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. The increased rating claims for PTSD and right thigh gunshot wound were partially granted, with the PTSD rating increased to 50 percent effective October 1995.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance of another person due to his ability to perform daily activities with assistance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, but granted an earlier effective date for his 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and total right knee replacement due to arthritis as secondary to the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound residuals.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including postoperative residuals of a fracture of the right knee and arthritis of the hips, render him unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. His right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities of the knees, elbows, wrists, and left shoulder are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine are service-connected, and he also has current disabilities in his hips, knees, and ankles. However, there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for chronic knee or ankle disorders.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, secondary to instability of the left knee. The Board also granted an increased evaluation for the service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that there is a medical nexus between the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and his service, making the claim well grounded. The VA will continue to seek additional records from the Navy medical facility in North Charleston.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the left knee warrants a 10 percent evaluation, but his meniscectomy does not meet the criteria for any compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, an increased evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent and 0 percent for gunshot wound and shell fragment wounds of the knees. The total rating based on individual unemployability was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability and for service connection for a left hip disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of injury to the left hip in service, thus failing to establish service connection.

The Board found that there is no current right knee disability and thus the claim for service connection was denied.