Knee decisions — 2000

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, as new and material evidence was not submitted. The issue regarding the thoracic spine and right and left knees is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is not well grounded, and denied his request for an initial rating on his right knee disability. The Board determined that the schedular criteria were not met for a compensable rating.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for joint pain of the knees and wrists as chronic disabilities resulting from an undiagnosed illness due to a lack of timely filed substantive appeal.

The veteran's nonservice-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 5, 1995 and increased to 30 percent effective September 5, 1995. The Board found that an evaluation in excess of 30 percent is not warranted for the left knee disability after September 5, 1995.

The veteran's left knee disability, characterized by instability and degenerative arthritis, warrants a 40 percent rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim is well grounded, but denied as his increased rating for conversion reaction manifested by knee pain remains noncompensable.

The Board found that service connection for bronchitis was not warranted, but granted service connection for other conditions and assigned noncompensable evaluations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating assignments due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as insufficient evidence supporting each claim.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a cervical spine or left knee disorder during active service, and the veteran has not provided sufficient medical evidence to establish a connection between these disorders and his military service. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral defective hearing is service-connected, and he is assigned a 10% evaluation. The claims for varicose veins and osteoarthritis of the neck, back, and knees are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disorder is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability in service and denied the claim as not well grounded.

The veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, reflecting moderate limitation of motion.,Both the left and right knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability secondary to his left knee disability and for an increased evaluation of his left knee disability. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee and granted it, finding new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded and have therefore been denied. The skull bone mass is not productive of any current symptoms or impairment, and it has not resulted in any skull loss.

The Board has established service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the appellant's right knee disability. The rating for the right knee disability is granted at 30 percent effective April 30, 1996.

The veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation under Chapter 31 was denied because he does not have a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, and the preponderance of evidence shows that his conditions do not meet the criteria for a serious employment handicap.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, sinusitis/rhinitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a skin disorder (claimed as tinea cruris and tinea pedis) are granted. The claim for left knee disorder is not well-grounded.