Knee decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and hip disorders, Achilles tendonitis, and leg length discrepancy. The appeals were based on direct evidence of a pre-existing condition without any indication of aggravation during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and the need for medical examinations.

The veteran's service connection claim for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees is granted.,Service connection is also granted for residuals of a right foot fourth metatarsal fracture. The veteran has residual pain from his in-service injury, which he experienced after discharge from active duty.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right and left knees, as well as a back disability. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or show that any disabilities are related to service.

The RO granted a temporary total (100%) rating for convalescence from October 7, 2004 to November 30, 2005 and assigned a 30% disability rating effective December 1, 2005 for the left knee disability. The veteran underwent partial knee replacement on October 7, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee disorders, including chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also determined that his PTSD was not incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a permanent right knee disability or left hip disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions was denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee disability did not start during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's left knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion and meniscal damage, does not warrant an increased rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding his back and left knee disabilities. The RO is instructed to arrange for a VA examination and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral foot disorder. The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disorder is being remanded to the RO.

Service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of verified combat participation and stressor events. The claim for increased ratings for headaches, right knee chondromalacia, and left knee chondromalacia were also denied as the criteria for a compensable rating prior to October 26, 2004, and a rating in excess of 30 percent after that date have not been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a coccyx disability, right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, or degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to service. The evidence does not support any connection between these conditions and service.

The veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted. However, the claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a right knee disability is denied.

The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD due to his combat experiences in Vietnam.,Service connection was denied for a right knee disorder, back disorder, and skin disorder as there is no evidence of such conditions related to active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, right hip injury, back injury, allergies and sinus problems, and joint pains and arthritis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.