Knee decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left knee, left ankle, and low back disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a well-grounded claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, residuals of malnutrition, left shoulder fracture, or jaw fracture. The Board also found no evidence to support service connection for these conditions.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected arthrotomy of the right knee with removal of lateral meniscus and severe tri-compartmental arthritis, effective February 22, 2000.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and consideration of new treatment records.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee strain with early degenerative joint disease was granted, and the effective date of this increase is set at May 19, 1998. The veteran also received an increased rating for post-operative residuals of perianal warts.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing impairment, defective vision, skin disorder, verruca vulgaris (warts), bilateral ankle disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic headaches, maxillary sinusitis, thoracic spine disability, pes cavus, and left varicocele are not well grounded. The veteran's claims have been denied as they do not meet the threshold requirement for a well-grounded claim.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded, and denied them. The right hip disability was determined to be unrelated to service.

The veteran's left knee injury, including degenerative arthritis, is rated at a combined 30 percent effective from July 1, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of both knees and arthritis of right shoulder and low back, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal regarding an increased evaluation for chondromalacia of the left knee is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of fracture of the coccyx and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine are deferred until additional records can be obtained.

The veteran's right knee disability, including synovitis and ligament tears, is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee has been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, arthritis of both hands, arthritis of the left knee, epididymitis, and sinusitis as they are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a rating of 30 percent from December 1, 1995 to February 11, 1997, and from March 1, 1998 to July 28, 1998.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his knee disabilities and an earlier effective date for the award of a 10 percent evaluation for hypertension were denied. However, he was granted an effective date of March 1, 2000, for the award of a 10 percent evaluation for hypertension.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee patellofemoral syndrome is being remanded due to the need for further development, including another VA examination.

The Board has granted a 50% evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, which is rated as internal derangement of the right knee, status postoperative arthroplasty.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a lip laceration, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral ankle disability. The veteran's in-service stressors are recognized as credible.