Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, effective from January 1994. The claim for service connection for a spinal disability as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability is also granted.

The veteran's low back injury and chondromalacia of the left knee were granted increased evaluations, with the low back receiving a higher evaluation due to more severe symptoms.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is the maximum available under VA regulations. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the condition and service.

The veteran's right knee disorder was initially rated at zero percent prior to August 2, 1995 and increased to 20 percent from October 1, 1995 to April 6, 1998.,After April 6, 1998, the veteran is entitled to a 20 percent evaluation for his right knee disorder.,The effective date of these ratings is October 26, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disorder as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and there is no evidence of record supporting a compensable rating.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability is rated at a 10 percent level, which meets the current manifestations of his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for urethral strictures and right knee disorder, as well as his timely appeals regarding service connection and a compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's right knee postoperative residuals with degenerative joint disease and chronic lumbosacral strain, but denied an increase in rating for his postoperative right knee with laxity.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased evaluations of the right shoulder, right knee, and lower back strain.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a 10 percent rating. The claim for an increased rating for the veteran's left knee disability is still pending.

The Board denied entitlement to a temporary total rating based on surgical treatment of the veteran's service-connected left knee disability in December 1995, finding that there was no evidence of severe post-operative residuals.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, low back, and right hip disabilities are not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability and increased evaluations for PTSD and hypertension. The decision found no evidence linking the current disabilities to service, and did not find any new or material evidence to reopen previously denied claims.

The VA determined that the veteran's knee disabilities do not warrant an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the claim is well-grounded and grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee as a residual of an inservice injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation than 10 percent.

The veteran's dyshidrotic eczema of the hands is currently rated at 30 percent, which meets his claim for an increased rating.,The veteran's chronic low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent. The RO granted a higher rating to 30 percent effective November 14, 1995.

The veteran's disabilities, including instability of the right knee and herniated disc L4-L5 with scoliosis, are rated at 30 percent combined. However, none of these conditions alone meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service medical records and other evidence. The veteran's claims for right knee and right ankle disabilities are being reviewed again.