Knee decisions — 2008

The Board granted increased ratings for chondromalacia patellae of both knees and plantar fasciitis and pes planus of both feet, but denied compensable ratings for right and left shin splints.

The Board finds that the veteran's current left knee arthritis is proximately due to a left knee injury sustained during active duty for training in July and August of 1979. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board found no current disability in the knees or right shoulder, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected right knee traumatic arthritis, effective May 14, 2004. The left knee condition remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to active service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and sensorineural hearing loss may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, left arm, right eye, and psychiatric disorders. The veteran's conditions are deemed unrelated to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of current neck or left knee disorders and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability is service-connected as it was present during his military service and is related to his active duty.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions and that none are related to service. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for increased ratings of his right and left knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including sending corrective VCAA notice and obtaining VA medical records and Social Security Administration disability records. The veteran is also scheduled for a VA orthopedic examination to assess his left knee disability and an audiologic examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorder, hearing loss, right inguinal hernia, back disability, and right knee surgery residuals. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for further development, including a VA orthopedic examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and ensuring proper VCAA notification.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is able to perform most activities of daily living without assistance.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and right knee arthritis, as both conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of punji stick injury to the left knee was denied, but his claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee was granted with a 10 percent rating effective from January 15, 2006.