Knee decisions — 2008

The claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD.,The claim of service connection for liver disease and hepatitis C/Cirrhosis is reopened, but the preponderance of the evidence shows that the most likely cause of the veteran's hepatitis C was his intravenous drug use.

The veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his left knee disorder, which was originally rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has ordered a remand to ensure proper consideration of the claim and additional development.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete development of evidence, including a need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a bilateral knee disorder, headaches, hypertension, and a low back disorder due to lack of current diagnoses and no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury and granted it. The veteran's current thoracic spine disability is found to be etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability was denied. The current evaluation of 10 percent is considered appropriate given the limited range of motion and lack of recurrent instability or subluxation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling since April 17, 2006. However, the Board finds that his range of motion does not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating due to pain and functional loss.

The veteran's service-connected headaches are rated at 30 percent since October 3, 2006. His bilateral tinea pedis is currently rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and awarded a 10 percent initial rating for the veteran's left knee injury, status post meniscectomy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to have existed prior to or during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to report for a VA examination, and requests that another examination be scheduled.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic right knee disability or low back disability that was incurred in service. The examiner found no evidence of such disabilities during service and concluded they are more likely related to post-service activities.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's left knee injury, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or instability. The current 10 percent rating was upheld.

The veteran's total right knee replacement was determined to be related to his service-connected right knee Osgood Schlatter's disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and a bilateral ankle disorder, each to include as secondary to a service-connected low back disability and/or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back injury, left knee injury, rhinitis, pharyngitis, neck injury, and chronic ear disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left knee medial meniscus tear, which is secondary to his service-connected left tibia/fibula fracture. However, secondary service connection was not established for his right knee disorder and degenerative arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spines.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the veteran's current left knee disability and his service, concluding that his mild osteoarthrosis is not related to any in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for a right hip and ankle disabilities, and reopening of psychiatric disability claims are REMANDED to the RO/AMC.