Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was not sufficient to establish a well-grounded claim for hypertension, but noted that further development of the issue was needed.

The Board has granted increased evaluations of 30 percent for both the right and left knee disorders, which were previously evaluated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further examination and rating consideration, including a separate rating for arthritis in the right knee.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee with limitation of motion, history of osteochondritis dissecans and postoperative osteotomy with non-union.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and a bilateral knee disability. The denial of the schizophrenia claim was based on the absence of evidence showing it was incurred during active duty or within one year after separation, while the knee disability claim was deferred pending completion of the schizophrenia claim development.

The veteran's PTSD is granted, rated at 50 percent disabling. The neurological deficit in the right upper extremity is considered to be a manifestation of his service-connected post-operative cervical intervertebral disc syndrome and thus secondary to it. A separate compensable rating for tinnitus is assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right tarsal tunnel syndrome and reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the ankle and foot, left heel spur, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, all secondary to her service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee with chronic tenosynovitis.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg with fracture of the tibia, status post left knee replacement, are rated at 30 percent. The Board found that this rating is appropriate given the current severity of his disability and did not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability is plausible and granted his claim based on direct evidence.

The veteran's appeal is for higher ratings for service-connected knee and hip conditions. The RO granted service connection but did not assign a compensable rating.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left knee medial meniscus tear is currently rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of frostbite and degenerative arthritis of the knees, low back, shoulders, hands, and elbows due to a lack of competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this aggravation.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for sinusitis, COPD, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, and osteoarthritis of the left knee as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between these conditions and any period of active service.

The veteran's internal derangement of the right knee is rated at 30 percent, while his traumatic arthritis remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and temporary total disability evaluations due to hospitalization and convalescence. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim or for a higher rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected left knee disability on the basis of instability or recurrent subluxation. However, it granted separate ratings for arthritis and functional loss due to pain, as well as a tender scar of the left knee.

The veteran's low back strain is currently rated as noncompensable prior to February 4, 1998 and 10 percent thereafter. The right knee ACL tear is currently rated at 30 percent. The traumatic arthritis of the right knee is currently rated at 10 percent.,The veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for post-traumatic arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as an increased evaluation for keloids of the anterior chest.