Knee decisions — 2009

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing bilateral ankle, knee, or hip disability that was aggravated by service. The Veteran's pes planus is not considered to have been permanently worsened during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any chronic lumbar spine, right shoulder or left knee conditions, nor cysts of the lower abdominal wall, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues except gout, which received a 20% disability rating. The remaining conditions were either not granted or had their ratings denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and clarifying whether the Veteran wants a hearing.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various cancers, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma under the eye, and Merkel cell carcinoma of the left knee. The claims are being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to sun exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for disabilities of the shoulders and knees, but ultimately denied these claims on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant higher initial ratings for any of his claims.

The Veteran's knee, elbow, and shoulder strains are being remanded for further development to determine if they are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for disability of the left lower extremity, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any point.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee disability and a compensable rating for his service-connected left foot sesamoid fracture disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to lack of current diagnosis and no link between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a right knee arthroplasty revision surgery, including amputation of the lower right extremity above the knee, is granted due to the unforeseeable risk of amputation resulting from infection following the May 2003 surgery.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues, specifically the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability. Service connection for tendinitis of the left knee is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, or an unspecified disorder on the left side of the trunk. The claims are therefore denied.