Knee decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee was denied as his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation folder and relevant treatment records. The AOJ will then readjudicate the claim based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his claimed disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations to clarify the nature and etiology of his claimed right knee disability, peptic ulcers, and low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, residuals of a head injury, residuals of a back injury, and residuals of bilateral knee injuries. The claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Veteran's skin disorder of the right leg, bilateral arm disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are all found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, primarily diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, was not shown to be related to service and the claim is denied.

Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions. A 20 percent evaluation was assigned for left shoulder impingement from July 25, 2008 forward.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and additional notification to the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent (noncompensable). The RO has not provided a rating in excess of the current noncompensable rating for this condition.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee was granted an increased rating to 10 percent effective April 20, 2006. The Veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent disability rating for his right knee disability.

The Veteran's sacroiliitis is related to his active duty service.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's lateral spurring of the thoracic spine or bilateral knee disorder to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for internal derangement, bilateral knees and a back disorder. The evidence submitted since the last denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to address his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the Veteran has underlying pathology for his diagnosed left hip, bilateral knee, and low back pain. The claim will be further developed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive lung disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and menisci tear of the left knee was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 14, 2005. After that date, a total knee replacement resulted in a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling for degenerative joint disease. A separate, compensable evaluation of 20 percent is granted for impairment of the meniscus of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-service left knee disorder was aggravated by active service, and thus grants service connection for his current left knee arthritis.