Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for urinary tract disorder, residuals of a fragment wound to the base of the skull, right shoulder condition, and residuals of a right knee injury are not well grounded. The RO denied these claims in February 1955 due to lack of evidence supporting the conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for a left knee disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 20 percent for internal derangement of the right knee prior to June 23, 1997 is not warranted. Effective from June 23, 1997, a rating of 30 percent is granted.

The Board has determined that there is a plausible relationship between the veteran's current right knee disability and an injury during active service, thus granting service connection for residuals of a torn meniscus of the right knee. The asthma claim remains unresolved.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for right knee arthritis and right wrist arthritis are not well-grounded. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an increased rating for residuals of a left foot fracture, finding no credible evidence linking his current disabilities to service. The claim for rheumatic fever was also denied.

The veteran's claim for VA outpatient dental treatment is denied as his conditions do not meet the eligibility criteria for Class III or Class VI treatment.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee condition is proximately due to or the result of his inservice shell fragment wound and service connection for a right knee condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, reflecting moderate impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for post-operative residuals of a right knee injury and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The veteran is contesting this rating, seeking a higher original evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded, and thus denied them. The evidence did not establish a causal link between his current conditions and his military service.

The veteran died of cardiovascular disease due to hypertension. His service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, hearing loss, and PTSD are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or exposure to conditions that could have caused these disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disorders. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the right wrist was also denied. Additionally, the effective dates for the grants of service connection for hypertension and residuals of a fracture of the right wrist were not established.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, finding that his conditions did not meet the schedular requirements for a permanent and total disability rating.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for aggravation of a right knee disability is well-grounded and will be reviewed on its merits.

The Board denied secondary service connection for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of causation or aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee arthritis, post-operative left knee injury, and lumbosacral strain. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating, and thus denies his claim for an increased evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left nephrectomy and bilateral knee disability, finding that they are not well grounded.