Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee condition, formerly Osgood-Schlatter disease. The VA examiner opined that the current diagnosis is neither incurred in nor aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and right knee disability, as well as the reopening of claims for right shoulder and chest injury residuals. The denial was based on lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The callus formation of the fifth metatarsal of the left foot was granted a 10% evaluation, but no other conditions received an increase in rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing right knee degenerative joint disease underwent an increase in severity during his active service, and this increase is presumed to be due to aggravation rather than natural progression of the condition. As a result, the claim for service connection for the right knee degenerative joint disease is granted.

The Board has determined that an additional remand is required due to the inadequacy of the October 2002 VA medical examination and the need for a new opinion on the etiology of the veteran's right knee disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as back and neck conditions, were denied by the RO in March 1975. The Board has not reopened these claims due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues include reopening service connection claims for various conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a left knee injury do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with effective dates ranging from March 18, 2003 to November 3, 2005. The veteran was awarded a 10 percent rating for each knee condition (arthritis and instability), varicose veins of the legs, and bilateral hearing loss.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Maryland and New York, providing proper notice as required by Kent v. Nicholson, and readjudicating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for cervical strain, thoracolumbar strain, tension headaches, and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome as there was no evidence of functional impairment or significant disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disorders. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 100% disabling.

The Board has determined that additional assistance is required to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The veteran needs VA examinations for her service-connected knee disabilities, left arm keloids, and left foot disability. She also needs an examination to determine whether she currently has a chronic throat disability or hearing loss due to service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee and ankle arthritis are not service connected as they did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The medical evidence does not support a finding that the disabilities are related to his service-connected residuals of burns to heels, feet, and ankles.

The Board found that the veteran's right hip disability is not related to his service-connected right knee disability and denied both his claim for secondary service connection and his request for an increased rating.

The Board finds that the veteran's current right knee and cardiovascular disorders were not present in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no indication that these conditions are causally related to his active service. Therefore, service connection for a right knee disorder or for coronary artery disease cannot be established.

The VA determined that the veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not secondary to his service-connected left ankle and/or right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims of service connection for knee disabilities and a fractured sternum. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of this development.

The Board found that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the knees was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a torn right knee lateral meniscus and granted it. The veteran is also awarded service connection for tinnitus, which was incurred during active service in the Persian Gulf War.