Knee decisions — 2001

The VA has determined that the veteran's current disability rating for his left knee condition is appropriate based on his symptoms and medical findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee conditions, as well as for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss. The RO granted service connection for these conditions in prior decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the left knee and increased the disability evaluation for neurovascular disturbances of the feet with history of exposure to 10 percent. The veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a right knee disability and is now considering the merits of the claim. The RO must obtain all available medical records related to the veteran's right knee condition, provide the veteran with a VA examination, and ensure that all notification and development actions required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 are completed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury due to lack of evidence supporting his claim, despite his reported symptoms and VA treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee with fracture of the right proximal fibula and entitlement to a permanent and total rating for pension purposes. The decision is final as it was made in December 1997, and no new and material evidence has been submitted since then.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and a need for an examination.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's gunshot wound residuals, finding that his condition does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 40 percent.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's current osteoarthritis of the right knee, including pain and swelling, is a residual of an in-service injury to the right knee. As there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence in this regard, the benefit of the doubt is given to the veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, which was previously denied in August 1984. The veteran's symptoms have continued post-service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee, including separate ratings for laxity of the left knee.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current schedular criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for painful joints of the knees as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness due to lack of objective indications of such a condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's left knee disability, which was currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative residuals of a right knee injury warrant a 10 percent evaluation, reflecting slight impairment of the knee.

The Board denied an increased rating for post-operative residuals of a left knee injury, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis, right knee and an increased rating for depression of C5 with traumatic arthritis. The veteran was granted a compensable rating (10%) for his depression condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating of her bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that a noncompensable rating was appropriate based on the criteria set forth in Diagnostic Code 5279.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits due to the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded as additional medical examinations are needed.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for post-phlebitic syndrome, right lower extremity, effective prior to January 1998 under the pre-amendment regulations and to a degree of 100 percent under the post-amendment regulations in effect after January 1998.