Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including macular degeneration, prostate disorder, peripheral neuropathy, low back disorder, generalized arthritis, lung disorder, and impotence are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee hematoma did not result in any disabling residuals, and thus denied his claim for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim for a right knee disability. The decision also noted that there was no medical evidence linking any current knee conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to lack of jurisdiction, as the veteran failed to file a timely substantive appeal for the September 1997 RO decision denying service connection for left knee and low back disabilities. The right knee instability and arthritis are rated at 10 percent prior to April 7, 1997, and since then.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post-traumatic internal derangement of the left knee with arthritis is being remanded to allow for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of all pertinent diagnostic codes under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right knee meniscectomy warrant an evaluation of 20 percent, reflecting moderate impairment.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a right knee examination and consideration of the veteran's service connection claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and elbow disabilities, as well as his request to increase the rating for bilateral defective hearing. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim of primary service connection for a back disability.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation for cruciate deficient post-operative reconstruction.,A temporary total rating beyond September 30, 1994 was denied.

The Board has restored the veteran's right knee disability rating to 30 percent effective December 1, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are related to service and have granted service connection for chronic lumbar spine strain, chronic dorsal strain, residuals of right knee sprain, and tinnitus. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a medial collateral ligament strain of the left knee, residuals of a concussion to the head, and a nonspecified stomach disorder. The claim for residuals of a Bennett's fracture of the right first metacarpal was remanded for further development.

The veteran's appeal is denied as the medical expenses incurred for his right knee disability were not rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and applying new legal standards.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability and acne vulgaris.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, and his gastric ulcer disease was initially granted service connection in December 1990 with a 10 percent rating. The temporary total convalescent rating for the gastric ulcer disease following hospitalization from February 27 to March 4, 1990, has been granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the veteran's current left knee condition and his military service, including any in-service injury. The claim is therefore denied.

The veteran's Raynaud's disease, headaches, sacro-iliac dysfunction, and chondromalacia of the left knee were all granted increased evaluations. The Raynaud's disease was assigned a 40 percent evaluation.