Knee decisions — 2000

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disorder, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, an increased rating for malaria, and an increased rating for cellulitis of the left leg as his claims are not well grounded.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and tenderness but without instability or significant limitation of motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's right total knee arthroplasty resulted in a 30 percent disability rating, which is the minimum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5055. The evidence did not support an increase to higher ratings based on functional impairment or other residuals.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for plantar fasciitis, a left eye disorder, a bilateral wrist disorder, a rectal disorder, residuals of a nose injury, and headaches are not well-grounded.,There is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition is not well grounded due to the lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to service or any incident therein.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as they are not well-grounded based on the lack of evidence showing a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back, bilateral knee, and right hip disabilities are related to his active service. The psychiatric disorder is also found to be linked to his service. No new evidence was presented for the claim of severe tooth and gum trouble.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus are not well-grounded. The claim for secondary service connection for major depression as secondary to ulcer disease is well-grounded. The veteran's current evaluation for his ulcer disease remains at 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee disabilities and a total rating based on individual unemployability. The issues of an increased evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the left knee with limitation of motion and a total rating based on individual unemployability are deferred pending further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right hip disabilities, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's left knee disability is not considered to be the result of VA treatment, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability as a consequence of such treatment is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back injury, knee injuries, leg injuries, appendectomy residuals, hypertension, left elbow disability, and varicose veins. The decision found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia of the right and left knees, but denied increased ratings as both knees are currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current left knee disorder or residuals of a left medial meniscectomy to service, and denied the claim.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of head trauma, laceration of the scalp and increased his evaluation for Baker's cyst and resection of plica of the left knee to 20 percent effective from the date of the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor was it caused by his service-connected left knee disorder.

The veteran's unauthorized private medical expenses incurred in September 1995 for a total knee replacement were denied because the treatment was not an emergency, and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee total arthroplasty residuals meet the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating, and his claim of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee disorder existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during his period of active duty. Therefore, service connection for a left knee disorder was denied.