Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation ratings, finding no medical evidence linking his current conditions to service or any other well-grounded basis. The veteran was granted a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of multiple right ankle sprains and left ankle sprain.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability, which includes postoperative residuals from a meniscectomy and degenerative arthritis, is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257 for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. Additionally, the veteran has noncompensable limitation of motion due to degenerative arthritis, warranting an additional 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260/5261.

The Board has determined that the appropriate effective date for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability is March 16, 1984.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of diagnostic codes related to arthritis, instability, and removal of cartilage.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his bilateral hearing loss was not well-grounded. The other issues were also denied as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 10 percent for the veteran's residuals of medial meniscectomy, right knee with traumatic arthritis. The claim for service connection for transvestic fetishism is not well-grounded as there is no evidence connecting it to disease or injury during service. The claim for service connection for degenerative changes and chondromalacia patella, left knee is well-grounded based on medical opinion evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Major Depression, as well as his claim for Generalized Joint Pain due to an undiagnosed illness during service in SWATO, is well grounded. The evidence supports a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the veteran's service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim is well-grounded and granted service connection for a left knee injury, finding continuity of symptomatology since his in-service injury. The RO will conduct further examination to clarify any current left knee disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, gout, bilateral knee disability, bilateral forearm disability, and low back disability were not well-grounded due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are well-grounded. The claim for a left knee disability is granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned. For maxillary sinus surgery with headaches and left antrum sinusitis, a compensable rating of 10 percent is granted. For left mandible and maxillary fracture with left mental nerve paresthesia, a 10 percent evaluation is also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for her left knee disability and service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence of aggravation of preexisting right ear hearing loss during service, and that the current level of hearing loss did not meet VA standards.

The Board finds that the veteran's lumbar degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative arthritis and left hip degenerative arthritis are as likely as not due to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the left thigh. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between her current conditions and service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder due to lack of evidence demonstrating current disability.

The Board found that the claim was not well-grounded and denied service connection for residuals of a left knee injury.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for residuals of an occipital laceration is not well grounded and therefore denied. The other claims on appeal are addressed in the remand at the end of this action.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU were denied. The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's COPD to military service, and his lumbar spine disability was rated as moderate limitation of motion without severe involvement. His knee disabilities did not meet criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's skin disorder is presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, and his right knee injury is service-connected. The rating for the right wrist fracture remains at 10 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have an employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities and is successfully maintaining employment as a site manager. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation under Chapter 31.