Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a broken right leg. The veteran's claims regarding muscle weakness with pain of the knees, legs and arms, as well as osteoarthritis and rotator cuff problems of the shoulders are being remanded to allow for further examination and development.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a full and complete VA examination of her left knee following surgery.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and either knee, finding no current disability or evidence of onset during service. The Board also found that there was insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish a claim based on presumptive service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip and knee disabilities, finding no current pathology to support these claims.

The VA denied the veteran's request for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Valley Memorial Hospital due to a knee surgery, as the condition did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's request for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical service provided on October 1, 2003 due to lack of authorization and failure to meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination by an orthopedic specialist and consideration of whether the veteran is entitled to a temporary total convalescence rating due to his left knee disability. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The claims for bilateral knee disorder and chronic vestibulopathy are remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis and instability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite and amputation of the left foot, finding that it was less likely than not that the amputation was caused by a cold injury during military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back disabilities, as well as right ear hearing loss, were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for more recent VA treatment records and clarification of service connection issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating for the entire period of initial rating claim from March 31, 2005.

The veteran claims compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right knee disability following a July 2002 VA right total knee arthroplasty, alleging negligence or fault on the part of VA in providing the wrong size prosthetic and failing to provide adequate therapy post-surgery.

The veteran's service-connected right and left hallux rigidus, as well as his bilateral knee retropatellar pain syndrome, are each rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The veteran is also granted a compensable rating for residuals of osteochondroma excision on the proximal left lower extremity.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD was incurred in service. The issues regarding increased ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia are remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and low back disorders due to a lack of evidence of current disabilities. The right knee and left ankle disorders are found to be related to post-service trauma.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee degenerative joint disease and for further notice under Vazquez-Flores v. Peake.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of this claim for service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a skin condition to the RO. The veteran's right wrist scar and left knee disability are both currently rated at 10 percent, but his appeal is not granted in full.