Knee decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the Veteran's claims.

The Board granted separate disability ratings of 20 percent for lateral instability of the right knee and 10 percent for lateral instability of the left knee, but denied increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of both knees.

The Board remands the claims for a bilateral knee condition, bilateral shoulder condition, and bilateral hip condition to an examiner for an opinion on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected residuals of coccidioidomycosis.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all issues developed for appellate review, including service connection claims and a low back rating claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability with radiculopathy and bilateral knee/leg disabilities, as well as increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The claim for TDIU was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was reclassified as a right total knee replacement associated with traumatic arthritis, and he was assigned a 30 percent evaluation effective January 4, 2006. The criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating is granted for the symptomatic removal of cartilage in the right knee.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a separate evaluation for dislocated semilunar cartilage, but the overall rating for chondromalacia of the patella with productive changes remained at 10 percent.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for ulcer disease and higher ratings for retropatellar pain syndrome of both knees, irritable bowel syndrome with cholecystectomy, hiatal hernia, and a history of gastritis, left hallux valgus with flexion deformities, right hallux valgus, and migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, left knee and ankle disorders. The rating was increased from 30% to 20% for the right hip pain with atrophy of the right thigh and calf muscles.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, a hysterectomy, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no competent medical evidence to support a finding that any of these conditions were related to her active military service.

The appeal is remanded for a Board hearing and additional development of the evidence.

The Veteran's residuals of a left knee meniscal tear result in pain, minor limitation of motion, arthritis, and little to no instability. Recent findings of left-sided weakness are clearly attributable to multiple cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) from 2004 and 2005, which are unrelated to the Veteran's left knee meniscal tear, and may not be considered in evaluating the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral plantar calcaneal spurring with history of bilateral plantar fasciitis and abnormal lateral plantar sensory findings involving the right foot was denied, while her claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was remanded.

The Board denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for various disabilities, including DJD of the right knee, postoperative meniscal tear of the right knee, DJD of the left knee, DJD and DDD of the lumbar spine, DJD of the right ankle, rotator cuff tear of the right shoulder, DJD of the left hip, surgical scars on the left thigh, left knee, lumbosacral spine, and right knee.

The Veteran's left knee disability was not related to service or his right knee disability, and the rating for his right knee postoperative residuals with chondromalacia and degenerative changes remained at 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, lower back disorder, and left ankle disorder as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbosacral strain was granted, while the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and other conditions were denied.

The Board denied the application to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee disorder as new and material evidence was not received.