Knee Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His vertiginous episodes, with dizziness, faintness, and headaches are rated at 30 percent under the old criteria. Service connection was not granted due to lack of competent medical evidence showing a nexus between any diagnosed disorders and active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left knee disorder, which involves status post ACL reconstruction and partial medial and lateral meniscectomies, has been granted. The current evaluation of 10 percent is maintained.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability was not well-grounded due to a lack of current evidence of a diagnosed knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his suicide was not caused by any incident of service or by his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board found that there was no evidence to support the veteran's claim of a right knee injury during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral ankle disability, but found that the claims for service connection for bilateral leg and knee disabilities are not well grounded.

The Board has found that the veteran's claim of service connection for a right leg disorder is well grounded and allowed the appeal to proceed.

The Board has increased the disability rating for the veteran's left knee disability to 30 percent, effective February 1998. The claim of service connection for a right knee disorder was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for left hip disability, left knee disability, and hearing loss disability are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a link to service.

The veteran's appeal is about the service connection for generalized arthritis of his left ankle, knees, spine, and hands. The rating for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle remains unchanged.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of trench feet. The evidence did not support a finding that arthritis of the back, hips, and knees was related to his service-connected trench feet.,For the period prior to January 12, 1998, the VA found no basis to increase the rating for trench feet as there were no objective findings indicating significant impairment beyond what is already covered by the current 10 percent disability rating. The Board also noted that pes planus and chronic fungal infection of the feet were unrelated to trench feet.,From January 12, 1998 onwards, the VA found no basis to increase the ratings for left and right trench foot as there was no evidence of additional impairment beyond what is already covered by the current 10 percent disability rating. The examiner noted that pes planus, chronic fungal infection, and chronic venous insufficiency were unrelated to trench feet.,The Board concluded that the appellant's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on his service-connected residuals of trench feet.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for left knee tuberculosis arthritis with fusion and service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The case is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case regarding the service connection issue.

The veteran's right foot disorder, post-operative status, is rated at 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under current VA regulations.

The Board finds that the veteran's current left knee symptomatology is not directly related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for residuals of a meniscectomy of the left knee cannot be established.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the left knee, but denied an increased evaluation for chondromalacia of the left patella.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to unclear intent regarding his appeal and issues not yet addressed.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right knee disability, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for post-traumatic left knee strain and has also granted a separate evaluation of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis in the left knee. Service connection is granted for osteoarthritis of the hips as secondary to service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's left knee disability is not service-connected.,The veteran's right knee disability has been granted increased evaluations.

The Board found no credible evidence of an in-service occurrence or aggravation of a left knee disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.