Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the knees as secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the hips and knees, finding that the veteran's current symptoms are related to his active duty service. The hearing loss claim is also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder was not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle injury and bilateral knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during his active duty or reserve service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's osteoarthritis of the knees is secondary to his repetitive axial loading type injuries sustained in falling from telephone poles as a lineman in service, and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of a right knee disability and pes planus, resulting in denial.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and left ankle arthritis, as well as his claim for increased ratings. The rating of 20% for the left knee disability prior to September 14, 1999 is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and lumbosacral strain, as well as his claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the right fourth finger. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, including hypertension; right knee disability; left knee disability; and residuals of nasal fracture are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis or show any link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for chondromalacia of the right knee with osteoarthritis since September 30, 1993. A separate 10 percent evaluation is also granted for right knee osteoarthritis since June 7, 1996.

The Board denied service connection for pseudogout as secondary to the veteran's right foot disability and also denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of gunshot wound to the right foot.

The Board determined that the veteran's right below the knee amputation did not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent, as there was no evidence indicating defective stump or thigh amputation recommended. The veteran used a prosthesis and had some secondary bony remodeling changes.

The veteran's right knee disability, which was initially rated at 20% prior to August 1992 and then increased to 30%, is currently manifested by total knee replacement with pain, slight instability, asymptomatic scars, and noncompensable limitation of motion. The claim for a higher rating based on treatment at Hamot Medical Center from October 26 to November 2, 1992 was timely filed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and neuropathy of the right lower extremity have been denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the conditions. The left knee disorder claim was denied in December 1962, and the low back disorder claim was denied in July 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and left shoulder disabilities do not warrant evaluations in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disorder does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent assigned. The issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from October 10, 1996 to November 10, 1996 remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is not well grounded, and thus denied.