Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's death was due to his service-connected disabilities, and he would have been entitled to a total rating based on individual unemployability as of November 9, 1983. Therefore, DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is granted.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's disability of the right knee, finding that her current symptoms are due to an intercurrent injury in 1992 and not related to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected postoperative chondromalacia of the left knee with synovitis and limitation of motion, finding that a 60% rating is warranted based on functional loss equivalent to extremely unfavorable ankylosis. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation was also denied.

The veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is granted. The other issues are pending and will be addressed in a future remand.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are also denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a right knee disorder, and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The decision is based on the current state of the law at the time of the decision.

The RO denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee disability, and a heart disability due to lack of well-grounded claims. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee, right hip, right calf, and low back disabilities claimed as secondary to his service connected right foot disorder due to a lack of evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right cuboid fracture.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, and the case is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that it did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 60 percent for the service-connected status post right knee replacement, which was previously rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome is not well-grounded. The VA has denied the claims for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for residuals of a tracheostomy and left shoulder disability, as well as his claims for increased ratings for cervical strain with arthritis, thoracic spine arthritis, lumbar spine weakness, and right knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, warranting secondary service connection.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, but some issues remain pending. The initial evaluations and ratings for several of the veteran's disabilities are also established.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA orthopedic examination to determine if the appellant's current left knee disability is related to his reported in-service injury. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board finds that the veteran's left knee disability is characterized by pain, decreased ability to ambulate, and problems with squatting, bending, kneeling or standing for extended periods of time. The maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 5257 has been granted (30 percent), which precludes an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the claim is not well grounded and requires further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee arthroplasty, secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The issue regarding an evaluation greater than 30 percent for residuals of a total right knee arthroplasty remains denied.