Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since February 17, 2000. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period. Service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities did not cause or aggravate his right knee, left knee, back, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left shoulder, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 20 percent disability rating for low back strain from October 2, 1995, to May 6, 1997. Effective May 6, 1997, the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for additional development, including scheduling of VA compensation examinations and consideration of staged ratings.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot injury and an increased evaluation for his left knee disability due to lack of timely or adequate substantive appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for flat feet and a GI disorder. The claims for bilateral knee condition, low back disorder, sinusitis, and diabetes mellitus were also denied as not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder as secondary to her service-connected right knee disability is well-grounded. The RO will schedule an examination and obtain any necessary medical records before reviewing the claims again.

The Board found that the veteran's current arthritis of the left shoulder, hip, and knee is not due to or the result of his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left radial head. The Board concluded that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for secondary service connection for right knee and right hip disorders was denied on the merits. The RO is instructed to readjudicate this issue with consideration of Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 439 (1995). Additionally, a VA examination is needed to evaluate the veteran's varicose veins, left leg, with thrombophlebitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee pain, diarrhea as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, headaches as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, dizziness as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, fatigue as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, and numbness of the hands as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right hip and left knee, as well as her claim for a higher rating for stress urinary incontinence. The veteran was granted treatment eligibility for periodontal disease due to its onset during active service.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for left knee disability, chronic bronchitis, and chronic sinusitis due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's left knee disability with arthritis, effective January 19, 1996. The current evaluation is based on limitation of motion under Diagnostic Code 5010.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on the current evidence of record. The evaluations are consistent with the severity and nature of his disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee disability, which included lateral meniscectomy and arthritis, warranted a 20 percent evaluation prior to January 7, 2000. After this date, it was rated at 40 percent.

The VA has denied increased evaluations for the veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar strain.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal of his right foot disorder claim due to a lack of timely submission of a substantive appeal. The left knee disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that her conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or service connection. The veteran's cesarean section scar was found to be a natural result of childbirth and not a medical complication of pregnancy. Her psychiatric residuals from miscarriage were not linked to active duty service. The latex allergy was rated based on its impact on her work as an operating room nurse, but did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal as there was no timely substantive appeal filed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for residuals of left knee medial meniscectomy, service connection for a left total hip replacement as secondary to the service-connected residuals of a left knee medial meniscectomy, and service connection for a left foot disability as secondary to the service-connected residuals of a left knee medial meniscectomy.