Knee decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's below knee amputation of the left leg was not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected varicose veins of the left leg.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's unresolved mental conditions and non-cooperation currently prevent him from successfully pursuing a vocational rehabilitation program and becoming gainfully employed in an occupation consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and residuals of a right hip disorder including arthritis are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and his left knee and calf disability is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeal for increased evaluations remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for folliculitis and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for right knee disability. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current disability was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including knee and shin injuries, hand scars, and a hernia. The veteran's low back, right hand, chest/ribs, skin disorder (tinea versicolor), and eye disability claims are also addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, right knee, and right hand disorders are not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these current disabilities and any inservice disease or injury.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded due to lack of evidence supporting his claims. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for recurrent bloody nose was denied as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, characterized by degenerative changes and slight limitation of flexion, does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent under any applicable diagnostic codes. A separate 10 percent evaluation is assigned for his residuals of sprain with traumatic arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for secondary service connection for degenerative joint disease, right knee replacement is not well grounded because there is no competent evidence establishing a link between his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right fibula and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further examination and consideration of the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of a service-connected left knee injury, taking into account functional loss due to pain and other factors.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability, effective from the date of the decision. The claim for total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability is also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are not well grounded. The evidence does not meet the threshold requirement of establishing a plausible claim.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain and left knee meniscectomy with degenerative changes were denied as the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee injury is being remanded due to incomplete development of the evidence.

The claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and both knees are not well-grounded.,The veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left olecranon process and open reduction with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis of the left elbow is productive of X-ray evidence of arthritis, and objective evidence of pain and limitation of motion. The RO has assigned a 10% rating based on this.,The veteran's service-connected left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there is no manifestation of pain or limitation of function.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and assigned a 20 percent rating effective from August 1996.

The Board has granted an evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right knee and left knee disability, effective from January 1997.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound is denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for such benefits.