Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's left foot condition is found to be secondary to his service-connected right thigh disability. The rating for the right thigh disability, which already includes a 40% evaluation based on muscle injury and degenerative joint disease, is increased to 50%.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis, subluxation, or other disabling conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee and low back disorders are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of severe injuries in service. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are due to aging rather than service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee sprain with meniscal degeneration, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability warrants a rating of 20% since December 8, 1998. The claims for service connection for back and hip disorders have been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and found it to be well grounded. Additional development is needed before the merits of the claim can be adjudicated.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder as secondary to his service-connected residuals of head trauma is not well grounded. The claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the left and right knees were denied due to lack of evidence showing that the disabilities are related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's claims of service connection for disorders of the right knee, right hip, left shoulder, jaw and bilateral hearing loss are not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence demonstrating a current disability or showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, and thus the claim is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus of the left foot and assigned a noncompensable rating.,Service connection was denied for left knee disorder, hiatal hernia, and migraine headaches as these claims are not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including residuals of an injury to the knees, torn left heel ligaments, and a fractured nose. The claim for residuals of a right eye injury was not addressed as it is considered moot due to other granted service connection issues.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current criteria.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right below-the-knee amputation, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his service-connected keratosis, palmoplantaris nummularis with dystrophic skin changes and ulcerations of the bilateral ankles.

The veteran's right knee and left ankle disabilities have been rated based on their current status. The RO has denied the claims for restoration of a 10% rating for the right knee disability and an increased (compensable) rating for the left ankle disability due to failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, right knee injury, and left knee injury. The decision also noted that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim of residuals of a left knee injury.

The veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated as 20 percent disabling since February 22, 1995.,Effective February 22, 1995, the RO granted earlier effective dates for the 20 percent ratings assigned for residuals of a right knee injury and degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and back conditions are not well-grounded as there is no evidence showing a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that his current symptoms do not meet the criteria for this condition.,The Board also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the low back disability claim. The Board found that the additional evidence did not provide a plausible basis for reopening the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and migraine headaches, as well as his claim for an increased rating for hypertension. The RO assigned a noncompensable (0 percent) rating for folliculitis. The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for hypertension effective February 1996.