Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left knee disorder, headaches, and tinnitus are well-grounded. However, due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein, the claims have been denied.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. 1151 for a right knee injury, based on a fall at a VA medical facility in February 1998 is denied because the injury occurred prior to any VA treatment and was not related to negligent treatment or an unforeseen event associated with treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a more comprehensive examination of the veteran's right knee disability. The RO should obtain all relevant medical records, schedule the veteran for an appropriate VA examination, and consider whether to refer the case for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chondromalacia of the patella, right knee was incurred during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back, hip, and groin conditions are secondary to her service-connected left knee disorder. She is currently rated at 10 percent for her left knee condition.

The Board found that the veteran was not in need of additional convalescence beyond October 31, 1995, following his right knee surgery. Therefore, the extension of a temporary total disability rating based on this period is denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder cannot be reopened.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of competent evidence linking his current hip and knee disabilities or head injury residuals to his military service. The claim for head injuries was also denied as it was determined that they were caused by the veteran's own misconduct.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, shin splints, and a bilateral knee condition are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or chronicity of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded, and thus denied.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well-grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking any service-connected disability or incident to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, patella-femoral syndrome is denied as there is no current disability and no evidence linking any past injury to his current condition.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection (September 13, 1997).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of vision, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right elbow disorder, and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The appeals were not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disorder and a seizure disorder, finding that new evidence did not provide sufficient material to reopen the previously denied claims.

The appellant's COPD, chronic back strain with spondylolisthesis, synovitis of the right and left knees, and synovitis of both hands are rated at 60%, 20%, 10%, 10%, and 10% respectively. The combined rating is 80%. The appellant's disabilities permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability is not more than 30 percent disabling according to the schedular criteria concerning knee impairment with instability and subluxation. A separate evaluation of 10 percent, and no more, for limitation of motion under the schedular criteria concerning limitation of motion have been met.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied by the RO. The decision is not clear on whether some issues were granted or others were denied.