Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an initial evaluation greater than noncompensable for his chronic lumbar strain. The issues were not fully developed due to the veteran's failure to cooperate with VA examinations.

The veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a 30% evaluation effective November 6, 1997. His post-operative left knee internal derangement residuals were granted a 20% evaluation effective April 29, 1999 for the period between March 2, 1992 and April 28, 1999; and a separate 20% evaluation was assigned for the period after that. The veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for impairment of the right knee, left knee, and a back condition as not well grounded. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or a link between the claimed conditions and active duty.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date of February 28, 1994 for the 100% disability rating for PTSD is not warranted due to the fact that prior to this date it was not factually ascertainable that PTSD met the schedular criteria for a 100% evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the saphenous vein is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The scars are not compensable under current criteria. The arterial graft of the left popliteal area has a current rating of 10 percent, effective January 24, 1997.,Prior to May 3, 1999, the veteran's service-connected left knee disability was rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257. From May 3, 1999, it is rated at 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's knee disabilities did not warrant a compensable evaluation, and service connection for his compression deformity at T7 was granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right and left knee disabilities are of service onset and related to his in-service injuries, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired left knee disorder, ulcers, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred in service. Additionally, the Board determined that the veteran's left knee disorder was not proximately due to or worsened by his right knee disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain (claimed as back condition) is not well grounded, and denied it. The claim for reopening a bilateral knee condition was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability. The claim is now considered de novo.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee was denied by the RO. The claims for service connection for a back condition due to inservice spinal tap and as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability were not addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder bursitis, positive PPD conversion, a left hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorders are not well grounded. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left knee disorder.

The veteran's appeal was denied for an increased rating of his left knee disability, which is currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further review of his claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and low back disability, including chronic arthritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for postoperative residuals of the right knee injury, other than traumatic arthritis and limitation of motion, effective January 28, 1999. The veteran's disability due to traumatic arthritis and limitation of motion is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, hip, and thigh disorders due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service. The claim for an increased rating for a right ankle sprain was granted with a 20% disability rating.

Service connection was denied for chronic jaw fracture residuals, chronic headache disability, and chronic left knee injury residuals due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection was granted for chronic left leg injury residuals but only after a finding that they were not objectively manifest during active service or at any time thereafter.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his postoperative residuals of a left knee injury was denied. His initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for chondromalacia patella of the right knee was granted, but only to 20 percent.