Knee decisions — 2000

The veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis is rated at 30%. The claims for hip disorder, left shoulder disorder, and headaches are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing current disability or a relationship to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and granted an increased evaluation for the cervical spine disability. The appellant's current condition is now considered to be related to his military service, specifically his parachute jump training exercises.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left knee with patellectomy, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee and leg disorder, finding that any current condition is not related to service or ACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including a new VA examination and review of medical records. The veteran is entitled to separate ratings for postoperative instability of the right knee and arthritis of the right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for right knee disability and entitlement to a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disability and service connection for a left knee and left ankle disorder. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is deferred at this time.

The veteran's appeal is about the rating for his right knee condition with degenerative joint disease. The RO needs to obtain updated treatment records from Loma Linda VAMC and readjudicate the issue.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection were denied. The RO assigned the appropriate disability ratings based on the severity of his service-connected conditions, but did not grant any additional benefits.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of burns on the right foot, right knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder other than post traumatic stress disorder or schizophrenia are not well grounded. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, characterized as residuals of a status post medial meniscectomy of the right knee, is currently evaluated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5003/5010. The evidence shows mild osteoarthritis with limited flexion due to pain.

The RO granted service connection and assigned evaluations for various shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, knee, and toe conditions. The appellant's claims were not well-grounded for residuals of head injury.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and Crohn's disease, as well as his attempt to reopen a claim for a right foot injury. The decision is based on the absence of evidence showing current disabilities or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for left knee disability, hypertension, and kidney disorder are not well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling under Code 5257, which is the maximum schedular rating available for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the knee. The RO was ordered to conduct a thorough and comprehensive medical examination to determine if additional evaluations are warranted based on the cardinal signs and symptoms of muscle injury.

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee impairment is productive of pain and discomfort on movement, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to service or any incident thereof, and denied his claim for service connection.

Service connection for a left knee disorder was granted in March 2000.

The Board has confirmed and continued the initial evaluations for the veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities, including residuals of a laceration, degenerative changes, laceration scar, tibial deformity, tenderness of distal anterior femoral cutaneous nerve, and tenderness of neuroma proximal saphenous nerve. The current 10 percent evaluations under Diagnostic Code 5299-5257 for the residuals of a laceration are not higher than what is warranted based on the evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluations for various disabilities, including lumbar, cervical, thoracic spine disorders, essential tremors of both hands, and patellofemoral pain syndrome in both knees. The appeals were based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary theory.