Knee decisions — 2009

The Board determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred during her active service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right eye disorder, severe chronic back pain, severe chronic neck pain, or right knee disorder attributable to his military service. High cholesterol and hypertension were also found not to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities do not warrant evaluations in excess of 10 percent, as their symptoms are consistent with limitation of motion to at least 120 degrees for the right knee and 110 degrees for the left knee.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for a bayonet wound to the right knee and also denied recognition of USAFFE service from December 21, 1941 to April 10, 1942.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and thoracic outlet syndrome.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia, bursitis of the spine, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, a sore testicle, and a sore crotch bone were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen a previously-denied claim for service connection for a left hip disorder and denied entitlement to increased ratings for his right knee, left knee, and right hip disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease, left knee is not rated higher than the current 10 percent disability rating. The Board found no evidence of limitation of motion or instability warranting a higher evaluation. Service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hip disabilities was also denied as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, PTSD, and depression. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for PTSD was granted based on a diagnosed condition related to in-service stressors, but service connection for depression was denied as it did not manifest during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right knee disability and extension beyond January 31, 2006, of a temporary total rating for convalescence following right knee surgery were denied. The claim for service connection for low back disability was not addressed as it is considered 'unknown' whether the appeal is about service connection at all.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic left and right knee disorders, and a chronic skin disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The Veteran's GERD was also not found to be aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right pelvis and assigned a 40 percent evaluation. The innominate bone disability is rated as 40 percent disabling, effective from the date service connection was granted. The right knee arthritis prior to September 27, 2006, is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower leg disorder, low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, skin condition of bilateral feet, and residuals of a broken toe. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining treatment records from VA facilities and a request for personal hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee injury residuals and laxity were denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. Service connection was granted for right knee degenerative changes, but the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating as his disability picture does not meet the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5261.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the service member's hypertension, which he had during his lifetime and prior to death, was related to his active service or any service-connected disability. The appellant must provide additional medical opinions on this issue.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities prior to August 14, 2008 were denied as there was no evidence of compensable limitation of motion or other service-connected conditions.