Knee decisions — 2009

The Board granted service connection for left and right foot disorders, but denied service connection for hemorrhoids. The claims for knee and lumbar spine disorders were remanded.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and residuals of a left knee injury with noncompensable ratings. A 10 percent rating was assigned for both conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right knee condition, lower back condition, and right wrist condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis in-service or post-service.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The case is being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing the dispositive question of whether the Veteran's left knee disorder pre-existing service underwent substantial aggravation therein, in view of the Court's November 2007 Memorandum Decision requesting additional evidentiary findings on that issue, as well as to address recently obtained medical evidence on the subject.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is not manifested by deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, and therefore does not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The appeal was denied for service connection of a low back disorder, and the claim for a skin rash was not reopened. However, new and material evidence was found to support reopening the claim for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to the absence of evidence showing a current disability and no relationship between any such symptoms and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and an increased initial evaluation for his right knee disability were denied as there was no current diagnosis of a right shoulder disability, and the evidence did not support a higher rating for the right knee.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of any present right knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee injury with degenerative joint disease, finding that a rating in excess of 10 percent was not warranted.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for the right knee disability based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability as it was not etiologically related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthralgia, a right elbow disability, and arthritis of the left elbow were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims, and there is no current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and bilateral hearing loss, as there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is characterized by social impairment, chronic recurring nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, irritability, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and a suicide attempt. The GAF scores ranged from 35 to 70 during the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for lumbosacral strain, and the Board found that a left knee disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were not related to active duty service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability, as well as an increased rating for bilateral heel spurs with plantar fasciitis.