Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability do not warrant higher ratings as they are currently evaluated.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his left ankle arthritis and right knee injury, finding that the current 20 percent and 10 percent ratings are appropriate based on the findings from a 1998 examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee and low back disabilities, but has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee disability. The veteran's left knee disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including the assignment of separate disability ratings and service connection for secondary disabilities.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, finding that the current evaluation of 10 percent adequately reflects the severity of her disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to lack of evidence showing that any current left knee disorder was incurred in service or related to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic low back, left hip, and left knee disorders. The appeals are granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his bilateral shoulder conditions, finding no evidence that the arthritis or impingement syndromes were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and right knee disability were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD, no evidence of marked impairment in the feet or knees warranting a higher rating, and insufficient instability to support an additional rating under Diagnostic Code 5261.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various knee, ankle, and foot disabilities due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has denied the claim that service-connected disabilities contributed to the veteran's death, finding no causal connection between his service-connected conditions and his cause of death.

The veteran's status post left knee meniscectomy residuals do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The RO will need to obtain all VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination to assess his atypical depression with somatization and chronic low back pain.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the veteran's left knee disability as of April 1, 2000. Prior to February 24, 1999, the disability was rated at 10%. The current condition involves moderate symptoms including pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling, heat and redness, instability, giving away, fatigability, and lack of endurance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fallen arches, skin disorder, and right hip, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities. The decision also denied his attempt to reopen a previously denied claim for a skin disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The RO will need to provide additional examinations and consider the evidence in determining whether a right shoulder disability is present, as well as review all other issues on appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left knee disability, and acquired headaches. The decision is based on the lack of new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected knee disabilities do not warrant increased ratings beyond those currently assigned, and denied entitlement to TDIU benefits.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for status post repair, ligament rupture, left knee and assigned a noncompensable rating. However, the issue is whether a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision regarding the increased rating for a left knee injury.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for instability and a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis, bringing the total to 30 percent.