Knee decisions — 2001

The appellant's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 10% for arthritis and injury with limited range of motion. Service connection for degenerative joint disease in the left knee was denied as there is no competent medical evidence attributing this condition to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot, ankle, and knee disorders are not service-connected. However, the veteran's follicular dermatitis and eczema have been rated at 10 percent since September 2000.

The veteran's service-connected left hip dislocation, low back degenerative joint disease, and left knee arthritis are all rated at 20 percent. The RO has granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right thigh shell fragment wound residuals and left knee shell fragment wound residuals including traumatic arthritis and retained metallic foreign bodies.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability and granted service connection for a duodenal ulcer with partial stomach removal. The right knee disability is considered incurred in active service, while the left knee disability is not. Service connection for the duodenal ulcer is established based on a statutory presumption due to its onset within one year of discharge.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral patellofemoral syndrome is not causally related to his service in the military, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and dismissed the appeal regarding memory loss. The veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, right otitis media, bilateral eustachian tube dysfunction, and hypertension are pending.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back, neck, right knee, and bilateral foot disorders are not related to service. The VA examinations did not find any evidence of congenital disorders or aggravation during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the hips and knees did not begin during service or due to a cold injury in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and for a rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee pain, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The right knee disorder is considered to have been aggravated during service, while the left knee pain claim lacks sufficient new evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee conditions, have resulted in his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or subluxation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for right below knee amputation and is granting it. The issues of secondary service connection for left knee, ankle, hip, and low back disorders are also being granted.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his service-connected knee disabilities have been granted, with the right knee receiving a 10 percent evaluation and the left knee increased to a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and postoperative residuals of lateral meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The RO has granted an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obtaining medical examinations and records.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying entitlement to additional special monthly compensation for purposes of accrued benefits.