Knee decisions — 2000

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing current disability attributable to service for stress fractures of the ankles, hips, or knees. Therefore, the veteran's claims are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder, hearing loss, impaired vision (loss of eyesight), and numbness of the left arm and hand. Service connection was granted for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine and chondromalacia of the right knee with noncompensable evaluations effective September 1, 1993.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder or sinusitis during active service and no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between any of the disabilities at issue and his period of active service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another or by reason of being housebound was denied due to his nonservice-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain (claimed as a back disability) secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee pain is not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection are not well-grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence of a current diagnosis or nexus to her period of active service for any claimed conditions.

The Board denied extension of the temporary total rating and an increased rating for residuals of the right knee injury, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 70 percent for the veteran's service-connected concussion residuals with chronic headaches and organic brain syndrome with recurrent major depression and explosive behavior, effective June 30, 1999. The right knee disability remains at a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and an increased rating for postoperative residuals of arthrotomy, right knee. The hypertension case was rated as 100% disabling.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of conjunctivitis, trigeminal neuralgia, right knee disability and tinea corporis. The appeal did not involve service connection issues.

The veteran's right knee disability, including post-total replacement, is rated at 30 percent effective December 1, 1994.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The Board also found that her claim is well-grounded, as there is a current disability (the veteran's condition) which was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that the limitation of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, postoperative repair of the meniscus and ligament of the right knee, and advanced degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The veteran's claims were not granted as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury is not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking his current right knee disability to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, residuals of back injury, and residuals of head injury due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the veteran's appeal was not timely filed for several conditions, including neck and shoulder injury, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and left knee disorder. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids has been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, arthritis of both knees, and a compensable rating for right foot fracture residuals. The veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a left knee disorder and insufficient medical evidence linking the current knee conditions to his service-connected gunshot wound of the left ankle.

The veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is not well grounded, and his appeal for an increased rating of low back disability has been denied.