Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO confirmed the previously assigned disability ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The decision is final as it was a prior Board decision.

The appellant's appeal is denied as he does not meet the legal threshold for non-service-connected improved pension benefits due to insufficient military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The reduction of the left knee disability rating from 30 to 20 percent was proper, but it did not result in a reduction or discontinuance of compensation payments at the time.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied the claims of entitlement to increased ratings and reopening a claim for degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The issue of clear and unmistakable error in rating decisions is pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, right knee disorder as secondary to left knee disorder, and back disorder as secondary to left knee disorder are denied. The claim for increased evaluation of the left knee is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for retropatellar arthralgia of the right knee, lumbosacral strain, and major depression.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability as secondary to asbestos exposure during service and an increased rating for his right knee disability, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Baker's cyst of the right knee does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable rating code.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and temporary total disability rating were denied by the RO. The issues of service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and hearing loss are not properly before the Board.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that his claim was not well-grounded and thus further development was barred.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since January 1991 did not provide a basis for finding service connection for right ankle and right knee disorders on a direct basis, as it was cumulative of previous evidence.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left knee replacement, finding that his condition meets the criteria for this rating based on severe painful motion and weakness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities, finding no competent evidence to support secondary service connection for right arm and elbow conditions. The right knee disability is rated as 30 percent disabling due to severe instability or lateral subluxation.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for each of the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, based on their functional limitations due to pain.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, concluding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition present during or after service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left middle finger injury, bilateral knee disorder, and left eye injury. The RO denied all of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and PTSD due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.