Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's pre-existing right knee disability was chronically aggravated during his second period of service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, as there was no evidence of fault or negligence on VA's part in providing medical care, and the psychiatric disorder was not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for depression was denied as the claim was received no earlier than January 16, 2001.

The Veteran's hypertension, bunion of the right and left great toes, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, cervical disorder, lumbar disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, and hepatitis B were denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated as 20 percent disabling, and the claims for service connection for bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder were denied.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, a right leg disorder other than degenerative joint disease of the right knee and hip, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right foot fracture.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, bilateral leg disability, sinus disability, depression, headaches, and gynecological disability as there was no evidence of chronic conditions during or after service.

The appeal is remanded for an additional VA examination to determine the nature and extent of any disability associated with the service-connected right foot scar disorder and the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder.

The Board remands the claims for a right knee disability and sinus disability to afford the Veteran VA examinations.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee/leg disabilities and a low back disability, as there was no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board remands the case to the AMC/RO for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records of private treatment since December 2002.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating or establish that her claimed conditions were related to service or secondary to her service-connected right knee disorders.

The Board remands the issues for further development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any asthma.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and a knot on the right knee as there was no evidence of a current disability or that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a low back disorder, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral foot disorder. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right leg and foot numbness was also denied.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the left knee with surgical repair of the medial and lateral meniscus, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for a video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied service connection for right above-the-knee amputation, finding that the condition was not caused by or related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation.