Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis, right knee injury, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and left shoulder injury are all rated at their highest possible levels. The scar of the right lower leg is also rated appropriately.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee instability warrants a 30 percent rating, while arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's instability of the right knee is rated at 20 percent, while his partial amputation of the distal tuft of the right middle finger does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's residuals of a right knee injury do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an increased evaluation for sinusitis, finding no evidence of current disabilities attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and increased evaluations for chondromalacia of the left knee, right knee, arthralgia of the left knee, and arthralgia of the right knee. The post-operative excision of loose body, right shoulder, with arthralgia is also rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multiple joint pains, to include both knees and hips, due to an undiagnosed illness, are service-related. Additionally, the veteran's seizures and/or blackouts, also due to an undiagnosed illness, are considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently has a low back disorder and that it is related to his service. The claims for service connection for left knee, wrist, and shoulder disorders are granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, as there is no medical evidence linking them to his in-service injuries or otherwise suggesting a connection.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability warranted a 10 percent rating under DC 5257, but denied an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disorder and cervical spine disorder, finding that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate based on the evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding no evidence of current disabilities that meet VA standards for recognition as a disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for the postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, finding that the schedular evaluations were adequate and no unusual circumstances existed to warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back pain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the schedular criteria did not meet the requirements for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for low back pain.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The right knee disorder is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's skin disorder of the feet is now rated at 50 percent disabling, and his shell fragment wounds of the right distal thigh and lateral knee are still rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions due to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a medial meniscus tear and an increased rating for right knee strain are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the relationship between his service-connected right knee strain and his current knee issues.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability is denied as the current rating of 20% adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.