Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's right knee does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling based on limitation of extension or other factors.

The appeal is being remanded to ensure the Veteran has the appropriate time period within which to perfect an appeal of the inextricably-intertwined claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board denied each of the claims as listed on the title page, including service connection for PTSD and various other conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a conclusion that either condition was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as they were not proximately due to, or the result of, the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left foot injury.

The Veteran was granted an evaluation of 50 percent for residuals of a shrapnel wound of the right thigh with compound comminuted fracture of the right femur and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, effective January 22, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, tinnitus, and higher initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees.

The Veteran's lumbar disc disease was rated at 20 percent from June 12, 2002, but no higher ratings were granted for the other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension was withdrawn, and the Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus was denied, as well as an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg above-the-knee amputation and a chest scar, as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating and service connection to schedule a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms were not credible.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hypertension, a bilateral knee disability, and substance abuse with residual migraine headaches as there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or chronic condition, and the claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis, finding that the evidence supports a finding that the current knee disability is due to an injury in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and tinnitus, as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease at L4-5 was granted a 20 percent rating, while the other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the claims.

The case was remanded for a new VA examination to reassess the Veteran's left knee disability, as the previous examination report was deemed inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder as there was no evidence of chronic disability during service or within one year after separation, and no medical evidence linking any current diagnosis to his military service.