Knee decisions — 2001

The Board found that the veteran's above-the-knee amputation of the right lower extremity was not due to a service cold injury and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of spiral meningitis, a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral shoulder disability, and a back condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and fibula, as the submitted evidence does not provide sufficient information to consider these claims.

The veteran's arthritis of the left knee and low back disability are both found to be service-connected as secondary to his right tibia and fibula fracture.

The veteran claims compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 1151 for an above the knee amputation of his left leg, which he alleges was caused by improper post-operative care at the Salem VA Medical Center in January 1996.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, which was previously denied in March 1985.

The November 1997 RO rating decision denied service connection for numbness of the left hand and foot, anxiety, and a left knee condition. The veteran's claims were not well grounded as there was no evidence showing these conditions in service or due to service-connected disabilities.

The VA denied an increased disability evaluation for the veteran's right knee disorder, finding that the current 10% rating adequately reflects his symptoms and functional limitations.

The Board has determined that the veteran should be afforded VA examinations to determine if his left knee and back disabilities are related to service. The appeals for these conditions will now proceed based on the evidence presented.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability, currently rated at 20 percent. The RO has ordered a VA examination to assess the severity of the disability and determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The veteran's enlarged left ventricle was found to be related to his service-connected hypertension. He is also granted service connection for hearing loss in both ears due to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The veteran's right knee disorder and left hip disorder have been granted service connection with noncompensable evaluations since August 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD, effective from January 9, 1998. The veteran's symptoms include anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, anger and irritability, reliving of combat events, social withdrawal isolation, and sleep difficulties resulting in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her right knee disability and has determined that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen her previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is manifested by slight instability and arthritis with slight limitation of motion. A rating in excess of the current 20 percent disability rating, represented by a combined 10 percent for residuals of lateral and medial meniscectomies and another 10 percent for arthritis, is not warranted.

The veteran's right knee disability, which includes residuals of a right knee injury following arthroscopic surgery, is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The evidence does not show that the condition warrants an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected right knee arthroscopy and plantar fasciitis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for special monthly pension benefits due to a lack of evidence showing that he requires regular aid and attendance or is substantially confined to his dwelling.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for arthralgia of the right knee, which was previously denied in April 1984. The newly received post-service medical records from Dr. RDS support a current diagnosis of sprain/strain and tear of the medial meniscus related to an in-service knee sprain.