Knee decisions — 2000

The Board granted separate 10 percent evaluations for tinnitus and residuals of a right knee injury with laxity of the lateral collateral ligament, effective from October 1, 1992. The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The veteran's neck disability is granted, and his left knee, lumbosacral strain, right wrist, and right shoulder disabilities are each rated at the minimum of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the above the left knee amputation was caused or aggravated by service-connected residuals of gunshot wounds.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left middle finger laceration and an increased rating for his left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims. The veteran's current left knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for major depression and degenerative joint disease of the left knee as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board granted an effective date of August 15, 1991 for the award of TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied both claims for service connection and increased rating, finding the appellant's claim for arthritis of the right knee as secondary to his left knee disability not well grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disability and hypertension with headaches, finding that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether the veteran's claims are well-grounded. The issues of service connection for postoperative residuals of vocal cord polyps with hoarseness (claimed as chronic laryngitis with loss of voice), bilateral knee disability, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with emphysema due to asbestos exposure will be considered.

The veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent, effective July 3, 1995. Service connection for a left elbow disability has been granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for arthritis of both knees, but it is not clear whether the veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is related to his active service or his service-connected residuals of frozen feet.

The veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, bilateral hearing loss, a left knee disorder and neurapraxia of the feet were denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that service connection is not well-grounded for headaches, bilateral ankle fractures, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hip disability. The claim of a lumbar spine disability is granted as the veteran's current back strain with normal X-rays is considered to be related to his inservice lifting injury.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nightsweats, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee. The veteran's residuals of shell fragment wound of the right shoulder, right hand and middle finger, and back have also been denied as not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tonsillitis, finding that neither rating criteria were more favorable to him based on the evidence of record.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal due to a failure to file both a timely Notice of Disagreement and a substantive appeal regarding his claim for service connection for excision of lipoma with peroneal nerve involvement of the right leg, with right foot weakness, secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right knee injury. The Board also dismissed the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of exposure to gas, exhaustion, fatigue, anaphylactic shock, and a left knee disorder are not well grounded. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is also denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current disability to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and left knee laxity are not well-grounded, as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip disorder and low back disorder claimed as secondary to the veteran's right knee disorder. However, it granted service connection for a low back disorder and left unresolved the issue of an increased rating for the right knee disorder.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration.