Knee decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability is not shown to have incurred in or be related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee disability was incurred in service, and she is therefore entitled to service connection for residuals of a left knee injury. The claim for bilateral fibrocystic breast disease remains denied.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation of his left knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied a higher rating for service-connected synovitis of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals, osteochondritis dissecans, right knee. The disability was rated as 10 percent disabling since July 8, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disorder, characterized by severe pain and weakness with marked limitation of motion, warrants a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The veteran's right knee disability was incurred in service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The issue of tinnitus will be addressed further as it requires additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left knee disability, determined to be a direct result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder and a bilateral foot disorder (claimed as tinea pedis) are granted. The RO is instructed to ensure adherence to new statutory provisions, readjudicate the claims, and provide supplemental statements of the case if necessary.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he was not in receipt of a total disability rating due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a left knee injury, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for status post left shoulder rotator cuff tear is also granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of left knee injury, exostosis, proximal tibia was denied by the RO. The Board has determined that another remand is required due to lack of recent VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for below knee amputation, right leg and denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip and degenerative disc disease of the neck and low back.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as for low back disability. The current evaluations are 10 percent for each knee condition and 10 percent for the low back disability.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected scar, residual, laceration, left knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for degenerative arthritis, left knee, with total knee replacement from November 3, 1993 to March 29, 2000 and granted a 60 percent rating for total right knee replacement for degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from August 3, 2000. The other claims of service connection remain pending.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current left knee disability was caused by a VA examination in August 1996, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 21, 1972 for service connection of left knee disability and hemorrhoids. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for hemorrhoids and service connection for right knee disability are pending.

The veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent due to persistent pain, limitation of motion, and crepitus. The RO has not granted a higher rating as the condition does not meet criteria for severe subluxation or lateral instability.