Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for nonservice-connected disability pension purposes, including consideration on an extra-schedular basis, was denied. The RO also considered service connection for right knee disorder but did not grant it.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite to the lower extremities and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, but denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee due to lack of evidence supporting a link between the condition and military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disability, service connection for head and neck injuries secondary to a service-connected right knee injury, and temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 and 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 were not well-grounded and denied all claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation of 20 percent is warranted based on his current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hip and right knee strains are proximately due to her service-connected residuals of fractures of the Stieda's process of the right talus with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, sensory involvement of the left leg and foot. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have additional disability of the right knee as a result of VA hospitalization and treatment in October 1981. The evidence supports this conclusion, with medium probative weight indicating no residual disability following surgery, and very large probative weight suggesting current disability is related to intervening injuries.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current right knee disorder to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing right knee condition was aggravated during his active service, and thus grants service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and an evaluation in excess of zero percent for hemorrhoids is not well-grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder, postoperative status. The claim for secondary service connection for a left knee disorder is well-grounded and remains pending.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating or a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, back condition, skin condition, and bilateral knee condition are not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The RO reduced the rating from 30 to 20 percent for left knee disability, but did not address the instability separately as requested by the veteran.

The veteran's claim for service connection for patellofemoral chondromalacia of the left knee is well grounded, and the Board finds that there is a nexus between the current disability and his period of active duty service. The case is remanded to allow for additional development including another VA examination.

The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current left knee disorder to service, and denied his claim of entitlement to service connection.

The VA denied the claim for an increased evaluation of the service-connected right knee disability, finding that the current 30 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of the appellant's symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic bilateral knee disability and assigned a 10 percent evaluation for the residuals of gallbladder surgery. The veteran's claim for an increased rating is denied.