Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the current manifestations of pain and crepitus without evidence of arthritis or significant impairment.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals because they were not timely filed within the required time limits.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected cervical spine disorder is currently manifested by no more than moderate limitation of motion, and thus denied an increased rating above 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic knee or back disability during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of chronic left knee or ankle disabilities prior to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, chondromalacia of the right knee, and chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities but denied service connection for hypertension. The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities were also addressed, with some issues being granted and others not.

The Board has determined that the current 30 percent rating for the left knee disability best represents the veteran's disability picture, and thus denied his claim for an increased evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left ear hearing loss, finding that it was aggravated by his military service. The right knee disorder claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence linking his current right knee disability to his period of active service. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a low back disability was also addressed, but the decision summary does not provide details on this aspect. Finally, the veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim for most of his conditions, except for those related to in-service injuries and current manifestations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right knee disability and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's appeal is about the assignment of a compensable disability rating for his left knee disorder with a retained metallic fragment. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if service connection should be granted for any residual joint disease or injury, and to assess the severity of the current left knee symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disorder and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with spondylosis at L5-S1, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the left knee claim and determining that the current 20 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain is appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that his current degenerative joint disease was not incurred in or related to his military service.

The veteran's left knee disability, which resulted in a total knee replacement, is rated at 60 percent due to significant functional impairment and chronic effusion. The higher rating aligns with the maximum schedular criteria for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee and shoulder disabilities, finding that they do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The ankle issues are pending further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 20, 1998 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and for the residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right neck and the right and left knees. The RO assigned an effective date of April 20, 1998.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and issues related to secondary service connection for right knee and heel disabilities. The veteran's claims are being reviewed with a focus on obtaining necessary medical records, conducting examinations, and adjudicating the secondary service connection claims.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities has been established, resulting in the grant of special monthly pension based on this need.