Knee decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is related to an in-service stressor involving sexual assault. The claimant was not previously denied on this issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and denied his claim for service connection for thoracic spine arthritis. The veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his left knee disability, and there is no evidence of arthritis of the thoracic spine due to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and granted entitlement to Paragraph 30 benefits based on convalescence following surgery. The veteran's current eye disability is not compensable.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation services under Chapter 31 of Title 38, United States Code.

The veteran is seeking service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the right medial malleolus. The case has been remanded due to conflicting information regarding prior injuries and compensation claims.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine did not cause or aggravate his bilateral knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's increased disability evaluations for osteoarthritis of the left knee and laxity of the left knee, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected back disability, warranting a grant of service connection for this degree of impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a right knee injury, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The veteran's case is being remanded to schedule a travel Board hearing. The issues include seeking higher ratings for his right knee disability and reopening service connection claims for related disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of service medical records and requests for additional information.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include service connection claims and an effective date claim.

The veteran's bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as iliotibial band syndrome, is related to his active service. The claims for right and left wrist disorders and migraine/cluster headaches are not addressed due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, effective from May 1, 1985, to January 30, 1989. The veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right knee disability, finding that his current range of motion and strength do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and PTSD, render him unemployable.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent, the right great toe fracture with hallux valgus and degenerative joint disease at 10 percent, and the left knee patellofemoral compartment degenerative joint disease at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracic spine disability and remanded the case to obtain further development, including medical examinations. The claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left hand disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. For his mid-back disorder, the VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not related to service-incurred injuries dated May 1994. The skin disorder claim is pending as no diagnosis has been made.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to a lack of a post-service examination.