Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right knee and shoulder disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for calluses of the feet and found that there was no evidence to support service connection for bilateral knee and hip arthritis secondary to service-connected calluses of the feet. The claims are denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and notification of the veteran.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that credible supporting evidence of the actual occurrence of an in-service stressor exists. The other two issues were dismissed as the appeal was withdrawn by the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, gout/arthritis of the hands and knees, atrial fibrillation with hypertension, a fungus in the groin area, and loss of the tip of the left index finger. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for prostate cancer.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records.

The veteran's service records show diagnoses of mild stress reactions in her right ankle and both knees during active duty. However, she does not have current diagnoses or treatment for hypertension, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, a right ankle disorder, or a bilateral knee disorder. Service connection is denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

Your appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left knee disorder or chronic mouth infection, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left foot fracture and arthritis of the right knee, but denied service connection for arthritis of the left foot and left knee.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hypertension did not cause or contribute to his death, and there is no evidence linking other causes of death (such as obesity, sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease) to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee, back, and bilateral hip disorders. As such, these claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of both knees is proximately due to his service-connected low back pain, intermittent, with degenerative changes and a history of muscle strain.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The issues include seeking increased evaluation for lumbosacral strain, service connection for secondary bilateral hip and knee conditions, and service connection for secondary ankle conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, but remands it to allow for further development and consideration.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, specifically patellofemoral pain syndrome, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent due to lack of evidence supporting more severe conditions such as recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran has a current right knee disability and whether any such disability is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the left knee claim and that there was no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found no evidence of head or knee disabilities incurred in service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left and right knee injuries are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.