Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial. The claim is granted.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of VAOPGCPREC 23-97.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, low back pain, and knee disability are not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee disability does not warrant a rating higher than the currently assigned 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee chondromalacia was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination, which is required for determining whether the condition meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's initial claim for PTSD was granted, and he is currently receiving a 50% evaluation. The Board found no evidence linking his bilateral knee and elbow disorders or coronary artery disease to service. His PTSD has been rated based on the severity of symptoms such as depression, impaired memory, difficulty in concentration, and social relationships.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right knee was denied as his current disability rating is already at its maximum level (30%) and there is no evidence showing that he has additional functional impairment warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. Service connection has been established for neck disability, back disability, bilateral knee and leg disabilities, pes planus, and hearing loss. Increased ratings have been assigned for hypertension and skin disorders.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the appellant's current right knee, back, or neck disorders to his service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left hip, and right hip disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence for the left knee claim and insufficient medical evidence linking current hip disorders to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 30 percent rating. Service connection was denied for arthritis of the hands and knees, but reopened on new evidence. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a higher evaluation beyond the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for the veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and laxity due to ACL reconstruction.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the February 1979 denial is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disorder.

The veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, left hip, right knee, and left knee with fracture of the femur were all evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The noncompensable evaluation for the lumbosacral spine was increased to 20 percent effective April 2, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims for service connection are not well-grounded as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance was denied because he is not in 'good health' aside from his service-connected disabilities, as determined by VA criteria.

The veteran's knee disabilities have been increased to 20 percent effective November 23, 1998. Prior to this date, the evaluations were 10 percent for each knee.

The veteran's service-connected epididymitis with cyst is rated at 10 percent, lumbosacral strain at noncompensable, and left knee disability at 20 percent. The appeal for increased ratings is granted in part.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection was not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence showing an increase in underlying pathology during service. The decision also noted errors in factual determinations made by the Board, such as the absence of a discharge examination from the veteran's first tour of duty.