Knee decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, low back, and hip disorders on a direct basis.,Additionally, the Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired disorder of the left knee as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and granted an increased rating to 10 percent for his malunited fracture of the neck of the right fifth finger with post traumatic degenerative changes.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for chronic bilateral knee disability is not well grounded, as there was no current medical diagnosis of chronic disability involving either knee. The examiner opined that the veteran did not have chronic organic disability of either knee.

The Board denied the veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection of a right knee disability and a low back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of a diagnosed bilateral hip disorder, and thus the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder claimed as secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disorders was denied.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection of right shoulder, knee, and ankle disorders. However, it determined that the submitted evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening claims for service connection of right knee and right ankle disorders.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the knees and a temporary total rating based on convalescence, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to service connected chondromalacia of the knees.

The Board has determined that the appellant's postoperative arthrotomy of the left knee, with early traumatic arthritis, warrants a disability evaluation of 20 percent. Additionally, separate evaluations for painful motion due to early traumatic arthritis are granted.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee arthritis and DDD of the lumbar spine are not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle fracture.

The Board denied the appeal, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the November and December 1969 rating decisions assigning a 30 percent evaluation for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left lower extremity.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the veteran's status post right knee reconstruction, finding that his symptoms of pain and swelling are analogous to dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The rating for residuals of right shoulder reconstruction remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right side, right leg and right knee pain, an increased disability evaluation for her service-connected squamous metaplasia hyperkeratosis, cervical stenosis, condyloma, and a higher initial disability rating for her PTSD. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's unemployability by reason of his service-connected disabilities. Additional medical examinations and records are needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for posttraumatic causalgia of the right knee, currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess whether there are any current residual disabilities due to the service-connected residuals of hemarthrosis of the left knee.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee injuries, finding that there is no evidence of instability or arthritis in either knee.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and for an earlier effective date for a temporary total disability evaluation. The appellant's right knee disability is currently rated at 10% under Diagnostic Code 5257, which pertains to retropatellar pain syndrome. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as there was no evidence of hospitalization prior to January 5th, 1994.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the right knee condition effective January 28, 1997 and a 30 percent rating from April 1, 1998. The veteran's back condition is also service-connected as secondary to his right knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are not well-grounded and have therefore been denied.