Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's right knee disorder, effective from May 20, 1999. The condition was previously rated as 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left femoral cutaneous neuropathy and service connection for a left knee disability and low back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss disability, left knee injury residuals, and left knee laceration scar residuals. The claim for a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral knee pain was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and social and industrial survey. The issues of increased rating for right knee arthritis and TDIU are pending.

The veteran's application for RH insurance was not received within one year of the last grant of service connection, thus denying his eligibility.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of both knees and finds it well grounded. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct a VA examination, and readjudicate the issues.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for DJD of the right knee and granted it, considering the veteran's credible testimony about his inservice duties and the x-ray showing degenerative changes within one year of retirement.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, skin disorder, bilateral hip, knee, and ankle disorders are all granted as they may be related to undiagnosed illnesses experienced during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee replacement condition warrants a 60 percent rating, reflecting severe painful motion or weakness of the affected extremity.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee, left knee, and back disorders did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to active duty. The claims were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased initial disability evaluation for his service-connected status post right orchiectomy and denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the service-connected postoperative residuals of a right knee injury and has granted an effective date of February 13, 1997. The Board also found that the veteran is entitled to an effective date of February 13, 1997 for a 40 percent evaluation for lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, a perforated ear drum, residuals of a right ankle fracture, hepatitis, and other injuries. The RO affirmed these determinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee and hip disabilities are well grounded, and service connection is granted for these conditions on a secondary basis to her left knee disability. The veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU benefits due to her left knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's postoperative repair of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee is productive of no more than slight impairment, and thus denied his claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied a higher rating for left knee instability but granted a separate rating for arthritis. The combined rating is now 40 percent.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a right lateral meniscectomy and arthritis of the right knee are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The RO has granted an increased rating for the meniscectomy disability but denied any increase in the arthritis rating.