Knee decisions — 2009

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against service connection for right knee arthritis and total knee replacement, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral leg ulcers.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for PTSD, and denied higher initial ratings for bilateral pes planus, low back disability with degenerative disc disease and scoliosis, left wrist sprain, and left knee strain.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology and severity of any current right knee disability and an additional sleep study.

The case is remanded for additional VA examinations and to consider whether an increased rating is warranted based on functional loss due to pain, extra-schedular considerations or the applicability of Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, residuals of a head injury, and residuals of a right wrist injury as there was no medical evidence or competent opinion supporting a nexus between the current diagnoses and any incident of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological disorder and an increased evaluation for his left knee disorder, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for right knee arthritis from March 11, 2008.

The appellant's right foot disability was caused by or secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board remands the claims for further evidentiary development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for his right knee disability, as there was no evidence of limitation of flexion to less than 30 degrees or extension to more than 5 degrees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder as there was no evidence of a chronic disability since 1985 or that any current bilateral knee disorder is related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for patellar tendinitis of the right knee with degenerative joint disease and plantar fasciitis of the right foot.

The veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment, and he is eligible for special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of his left foot.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a left ankle disability as there was no evidence of chronic disabilities in service, and the first evidence of such conditions occurred many years after discharge from service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a video-conference hearing and review of additional private treatment reports.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and DEA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased initial evaluation for a cervical spine disability, and service connection for left knee degenerative changes with minimal patellar spurring and right knee disability, including osteochondroma.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral stress headaches and H. pylori with peptic ulcer disease, but granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease with left leg muscle atrophy.

The Veteran's below the right knee amputation is granted as it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.