Knee decisions — 2009

Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran's service-connected retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee was manifested by limitation of motion but there was no showing that flexion was limited to 60 degrees or extension was limited to 5 degrees. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to functional loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on all the listed issues before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and recurrent headaches are being remanded due to the need for further development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, warranted a separate 10 percent rating for loss of motion associated with instability prior to February 2, 2004. Since April 1, 2005, the Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent evaluation for his total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA opinion regarding the presence of instability in his right knee following total knee replacement, and whether he should be granted a separate compensable rating for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the knees was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not related to a service-connected disability, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limitation of motion, has been rated at 60 percent since November 25, 2008. This rating is for total right knee arthroplasty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing that his current left knee disability is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a low back condition, a left hip condition, a right hip condition, and a right knee condition, finding no current diagnoses of these conditions and insufficient evidence linking them to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back and knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claims.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are necessary to clarify the dates of the appellant's service in the Air Force Reserve and to obtain relevant medical records. The appeal is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria to establish service connection for each condition.,The Veteran has been granted a higher initial evaluation of 100 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected degenerative changes of the left and right knees, status post bilateral total arthroplasty. The RO must also obtain updated treatment records from December 2008.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's right ankle and knee, or bilateral hearing loss. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to locate VA treatment records and provide proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from McGuire Air Force Base and providing VCAA notice regarding her service connection claim for skin allergies.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric conditions, knee and spine issues, high blood pressure, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for service connection for his right knee disability and psychiatric disorder, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected chronic myositis ossificans of the left thigh, with left knee and hip involvement was denied by the Board. The current evaluation is 30 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, characterized by torn lateral meniscus and degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 10 percent since July 18, 1997. The Board denied an earlier effective date.