Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for left knee arthritis with limitation of extension, granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion, and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability.

The Board grants service connection for arthritis of the right knee as secondary to a service-connected left leg disability. Service connection for headaches is denied.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right foot condition, a left knee condition, and residuals of a pulled left shoulder muscle as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or any incident therein.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the hips, hands, and knees as well as panic disorder with agoraphobia due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis and instability of the right knee were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the preponderance of the competent medical and other evidence of record is against a finding that the Veteran's left knee disorder is causally related to active service, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the 10 percent rating for a surgical scar of the right knee and the 60 percent rating for a right knee replacement, secondary to osteoarthritis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disability and denied increased ratings for cellulitis of both feet, left leg varicose veins, and other conditions.

The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and an attempt to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, a right hip condition, and a right leg condition as there was no evidence that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee and hip developed during or as a result of his active service. There was also no evidence showing that he had a right leg disability.

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

The appeal for an increased rating for the left wrist disability was denied as the Veteran's current disability level did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's impotency (erectile dysfunction) is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected depression, and he is assigned a 30 percent rating for his migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol as it is not a disability resulting from an injury or disease incurred in active duty.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence regarding the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability were denied. The Board also remanded the issues related to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left knee disability, and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The evidence supports that the Veteran's migraines had their onset during his active military service.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, as there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to February 2, 2006.

The case is remanded for further development and consideration of additional evidence, including a new VA examination to determine the impact of service-connected disabilities on employability.