Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that the veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities are related to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is referred back to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, a disability claimed as sensitivity to light, and hiatal hernia. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions and concluded that there was insufficient evidence linking them to military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee is remanded due to insufficient examination and lack of interval change in symptoms.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for VA examinations to assess her service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disorder due to insufficient evidence linking her current condition to her military service. The case will be returned to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has found that additional development of evidence is required, including obtaining in-patient hospitalization records and sick/morning reports from the veteran's service. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, status post arthroscopic repair, is not related to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, muscle spasm of the lumbar spine, iliotibial friction band syndrome of the left knee, and iliotibial friction band syndrome of the right knee.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right knee strain does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to clarify the relationship between the veteran's current left knee disorder and his military service, including consideration of postservice employment in construction and coal mining industries.

Throughout the rating period on appeal, the service-connected left knee disability is manifested by pain on motion and arthritis, but motion is limited to at least 90 degrees. The criteria are not met for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has granted a combined rating of at least 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, effective from June 22, 2006. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and arrange for a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to new evidence. However, the claim for bilateral knee replacements was denied as there is no credible evidence linking the veteran's current knee disorders to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding no current disability or evidence of a nexus to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for prostatitis, kidney cysts, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and headaches were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a torn medial ligament of the left knee and bilateral hand warts, finding no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability and left knee disability, finding that there was no competent evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee condition is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected total left knee anthroplasty, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the service-connected right knee condition, effective from June 3, 2000. The veteran's arthritis-related limitation of motion is rated at 10 percent, and his residual surgical scars are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, bilateral hip condition, right knee condition, and depression, all secondary to his service-connected excision of mass from distal left thigh and left knee disability. The effective date remains August 16, 2005.