Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for ulcerative colitis and left knee disorder, including arthritis, are not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities are well grounded. The RO granted service connection for these conditions, but denied the requests for increased evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal disability, and left knee disorder are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis or link to these conditions.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including post-operative arthrotomy with chondromalacia and chronic dislocation of the patella of both knees, as well as hammer toes of the feet. The RO was instructed to obtain medical records from recent treatment and provide an orthopedic examination.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability warranted a reduced rating from 40 percent to 10 percent, effective May 1, 1997. The reduction was upheld as there was no evidence showing ankylosis or significant instability.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 10 percent rating, but denied service connection for left and right knee disorders due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have not been well-grounded, and thus denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, based on findings of arthritis and limitation of motion.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders and bilateral defective hearing, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection, restoration of a 20 percent disability rating for his right knee, and increased disability rating for his right knee. The RO is instructed to consider these issues again.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and an increased rating for his right foot disability, finding that the submitted evidence was not new and material. The claim for a compensable evaluation pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 is pending.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and consideration of whether extraschedular considerations are warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for disability compensation for aggravation of a left knee disorder as a result of VA hospitalization and treatment is not well grounded, thus denying the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine and low back disabilities, as well as his left knee disability, are service-connected. These conditions were first noted post-service but may be related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, and his right knee strain at 10 percent. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.,The veteran meets the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic migraine headaches and evaluations in excess of 10 percent each for chondromalacia of the left and right knees, as well as an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for postoperative residuals of an umbilical hernia. The veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating, as there is no evidence of severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The current range of motion and X-ray findings do not support higher ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for right knee disability, pneumonia, and hearing loss of the left ear were not well-grounded. The claim to reopen his residuals of head injury with dizziness was also found to be well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and herniated nucleus pulposus, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions, and insufficient medical evidence to link current disabilities to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right and left knee disabilities.