Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability is service-connected due to injury sustained during active duty. However, there is insufficient evidence linking his current lumbosacral spine disability to service.

The RO denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a psychiatric disorder based on the lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee status post ACL reconstruction warrants a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of service connection.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current right knee degenerative joint disease to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for knee, hearing loss, and respiratory disabilities. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of surgery to repair a right inguinal hernia is also denied.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right total knee replacement, finding that his symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since April 1969. The issue is now on its merits, but further examination by an orthopedic specialist is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, low back disorder, kidney disorder (claimed as hematuria), prostate disorder, lung disorder, and migraine headaches. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disease including hypertension is not well-grounded, and his claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the veteran's bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has restored a 60% evaluation for the below-knee amputation of the right leg, effective from February 1, 1995. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30%, and he receives separate evaluations for his forearm scar and knee/hip arthritis.

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee disorder warranted a 10 percent evaluation, effective December 22, 1993.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain of the wrists, ankles, and right knee. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's service-connected right knee disability to his claimed left knee and ankle disabilities, thus denying these claims.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Tucson and requesting medical evidence linking the veteran's disabilities to service.

The VA denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of both knees, finding no evidence of moderate impairment or limitation of motion that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of current disability associated with the appellant's left knee, left ankle or bilateral elbow disorders. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for PTSD and a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left knee with retained fragment, effective April 25, 1995. The head injury evaluation remains at 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for a left knee disability evaluation and a nonservice-connected pension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his records. The RO will consider staged ratings for the left knee disability, assign separate ratings for each nonservice-connected disorder, and readjudicate the issue of entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.