Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's left knee disability does not result in flexion limited to less than 90 degrees, extension more limited than to 0 degrees, or more than slight lateral instability or subluxation. Therefore, an increased evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for duodenal ulcer disease and a separate 10 percent rating for left knee degenerative joint disease by X-ray with painful motion, but the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, PTSD, and left knee instability were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disorder and service connection for right knee and back disorders, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating or establish that these conditions were related to his active service or any incident therein.

The appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence, including obtaining a new medical opinion to determine the etiology of the veteran's low back and knee conditions as well as his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The appeal is remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran is not entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, left and right knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding of a chronic disability in service or continuity of relevant symptomatology.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, acid reflux disease, sinusitis with chronic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, occipital neuralgia, and tinnitus were denied. However, the claim for chronic headaches was granted.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder as there is no competent evidence relating it to service or any incident of service, including exposure to herbicides.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and to provide the Veteran with proper notice of the laws and regulations governing his claims.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within the initial post-service year, and no medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, a neck disability, a left knee disability, and a right knee disability as there was no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee, bilateral hip and lumbar spine disorders were found to be aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder as secondary to pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability as secondary to pes planus. The 30 percent rating for pes planus was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from an aborted cystoscopy at a VA facility on May 24, 2001, is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's bilateral elbow, knee, ankle and foot disorders, a skin disorder, and a right shoulder disorder as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in severity beyond normal progression during his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition was reopened as new and material evidence was submitted, but the increased rating claim for varicose veins of the right leg was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right hip and knee conditions, as well as service connection for right ankle sprains, were denied.