Knee decisions — 2007

The veteran's left knee, which had undergone total replacement and revision surgeries, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has determined that the evidence shows severe painful motion due to chronic residuals of his left knee condition, warranting a higher 60 percent rating.

The Board has decided that the veteran's current right knee disability is related to his active duty service, granting service connection for this condition.

The veteran's left arm ulnar neuropathy is rated at 30 percent since October 16, 2006. The right knee disability with torn medial meniscus and degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a neck scar or bilateral knee disability that was incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's employment was not marginal and her TDIU rating was terminated effective January 1, 2008.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation and service connection were denied. The initial evaluation for right knee total arthroplasty with arthritis was not granted as greater than 30 percent, and the low back disorder was found to be secondary to a preexisting condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hand arthritis, right knee arthritis, and residuals of lumbar fracture. The claim for a compensable rating for calluses of both feet was withdrawn by the veteran before a decision could be made.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a hernia and right knee arthritis as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain (low back disorder) and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee have been granted service connection. The veteran's greater trochanteric bursitis of the left hip has been denied, as well as her initial disability rating for psoriasis which was granted from March 10, 2004 to May 12, 2005 and then again from May 13, 2005 to April 13, 2006. The veteran's residuals of surgical repair of a Morton's neuroma of the left foot have also been granted service connection.,The veteran's psoriasis has been granted service connection but her initial disability rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10% rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, but service connection was granted and a non-compensable rating was assigned for the left knee condition. The right knee condition received a 20% rating effective May 21, 2003. Service connection was also established for lumbosacral strain and sprain with no compensable rating.

The RO denied all claims for increased ratings and service connection for right knee ligamentous instability, lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, and left knee disorder. The denial of the claims is final.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and tinnitus are not service-connected.

The veteran's service-connected scars have been rated as noncompensable, but an increased rating of 10 percent has been granted for the scars of the right and left buttocks effective July 24, 2004. The ratings for the scar of the left leg and the scar of the left forearm remain at noncompensable.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's right total knee arthroplasty, finding that his disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on severe painful motion or weakness, ankylosis, limitation of extension to 30 degrees, or impairment of the tibia and fibula.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and further clarification of his conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, and denied his increased rating claims for traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for neck, low back, and right shoulder disorders. The VA found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.,For the 1151 claim related to left knee and back disorders, the Board also denied the claim as there is insufficient medical evidence showing that the veteran's current disabilities resulted from VA treatment.