Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in and of themselves without regard to his age, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a right knee condition. The claim for left foot bunionectomy, claimed as secondary to service-connected postoperative scar of the left foot, remains pending.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic left knee disorder or chronic low back disorder in service, and the current conditions are not shown to be related to service. The appellant's claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that is related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, finding that his current disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service and are not proximately due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's right hip disability is denied as secondary to his service-connected right ankle fracture and bone graft. The Board finds that the pre-existing right hip condition did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder impingement syndrome, and right and left knee disabilities were denied. The left knee disability was rated at a combined 30 percent (10 percent under Code 5260 and 20 percent under Code 5257).

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for increased evaluations of right knee and left index finger disabilities is addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's quadriplegia is service connected as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and reopening of a left knee disorder claim were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating or new and material evidence to reopen the left knee disorder claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims for chronic right hip, right knee, and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for disorders of the lumbar spine, left hip, and left knee, as well as a vascular disorder (to include a skin rash) were denied. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's asserted cold injury residuals did not manifest until many years after service and are not shown by the medical evidence of record to be related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and instability of the right knee, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a right hip disability. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the VCAA notice and for additional development of his right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent for instability and arthritis. The current rating is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder and bilateral knee arthritis, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current left knee disability and his service, including an in-service injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.