Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for PTSD and a bilateral knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for further examination and analysis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee or left ankle disability and there is no evidence of an in-service injury. Therefore, service connection for these disabilities cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, did not address the new and material evidence claim for a deviated nasal septum, and denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and right shoulder conditions, finding that new evidence did not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a right hip stress fracture are rated at 20 percent, and the claim for an increased rating is granted. Service connection was established for left knee and right knee conditions as secondary to the service-connected right hip condition, but no low back disorder has been found to be related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder on a direct basis, resulting in a denial of this request.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right knee, back, hip, or shoulder disability that is attributable to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and left hip disabilities on a direct basis or as secondary to his service-connected acrocyanosis with frostbite of the feet. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in service or related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his right or left knee injuries sustained during active military service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including a stomach disability, right knee disability, right knee scar, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and bilateral foot disability, were not incurred or aggravated by his active service. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology after discharge for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, as well as reopening a claim for degenerative joint disease of the left thumb.

The Board found that the veteran's current low back, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are not related to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of injuries to the knees in September 2004. The veteran presented new evidence, but it did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The VA found that the veteran's hearing loss does not meet criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic bilateral knee problem in service or shortly thereafter, and the VA medical opinion stated there is no known connection between the veteran's military service and his arthritis. The claim for accrued benefits was denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected right knee arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of whether an earlier effective date should be assigned.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of separate ratings for arthritis and instability. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's left knee disability under Diagnostic Code 5259, effective from October 25, 2006.

The veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the increased ratings claims related to favorable ankylosis of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee with osteoarthritis, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and residual scars of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee synovitis and also denied his attempt to reopen his right knee disability claim, finding no new and material evidence.