Knee decisions — 2000

The Board found no current right knee disability and concluded that the veteran's claim for service connection was not well grounded.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, but denied it as not well-grounded. The case is remanded to consider whether new and material evidence supports reopening of the left knee disability claim.

The veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 1, 1998. The left knee disability was denied as not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability does not warrant an evaluation greater than 10 percent prior to July 21, 1997 or a rating greater than 20 percent currently.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic acquired left knee disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected medial meniscectomy of the right knee. The claim for right drop foot as secondary to the service-connected medial meniscectomy of the right knee is not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder and a bilateral knee disorder, finding that there was no current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine if the veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee arthritis.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current bilateral knee disorder and there is no evidence of any such condition during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is denied.

The veteran's residuals of a left knee injury are not more than 10 percent disabling according to the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and original compensable evaluations for tinnitus, as well as his shoulder and lumbosacral spine disabilities. The decision also notes that the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities, finding that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of his conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking his diagnosed conditions to his active duty service.

The Board found that the claims of service connection for bilateral elbow and knee, and low back disorders due to an undiagnosed illness or on a basis other than an undiagnosed illness are not well grounded. The claim for increased evaluation for residuals of nasal fracture with status post rhinoplasty is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on current clinical findings and diagnostic criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits is also addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating of 20 percent for left knee disability, including shrapnel wound residuals.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence of more disabling conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's chondromalacia of the patella, left knee does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The current evaluation of 10 percent is deemed appropriate given the veteran's symptoms and range of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his left knee disability and service connection for a low back disorder. The decision concluded that there was no evidence to support the veteran's contention that his current low back disorder is related to his period of service or to his service-connected left knee disability.