Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's right and left trapezius strains, right hip strain, left hip strain, and a disability characterized by edema of the lower extremities (claimed as right and left thigh pain) are all found to be proximately due to her service-connected migraine headaches. Service connection for additional right and left knee disabilities is denied as they are not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is also denied as it was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for lumbar spine, right foot, and right knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disorder, which the Board finds requires additional development including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected postoperative residuals of a left knee injury was denied by the RO. The current disability is currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right arm condition was proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected neck disability. The Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for such condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot disability and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and is granting this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as she did not have a current disability. The claims for the other conditions were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new evidence, including a statement of the case on the issues of service connection for severe bilateral knee arthritis and an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the April 1998 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral foot disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, residuals of a left knee strain, and migraine headaches with blackouts due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right patella fracture and associated conditions were denied. The RO granted service connection for arthritis and instability of the left knee, but did not increase their initial ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination conducted in February 2007. The Veteran's current right knee disability is being reviewed for its relation to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his right shoulder disability warranted a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are currently evaluated at 20 percent each, while his residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right posterior thigh with right knee arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that these evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not found to be related to his military service, atrial fibrillation did not warrant a higher rating, bilateral hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation, degenerative joint disease of the right knee and left knee were rated appropriately, and instability of the left knee warranted a separate 10 percent rating. The Veteran's right shoulder condition was also rated appropriately.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of her claims, including service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating codes. The Board found that he did not have moderate ankle disability, marked limitation of motion, or ankylosis of the right ankle.