Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of worsening or additional disability beyond that already compensated.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine strain, but granted higher ratings of 10% each for the right and left hip sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative changes of the right knee, as there was no evidence to support a direct link between the Veteran's current condition and his period of active service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 10 percent evaluation for limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent evaluation on the basis of limitation of extension, while her left knee disability was granted a 10 percent evaluation for limitation of flexion and a 10 percent evaluation on the basis of limitation of extension. The Veteran's left forearm scar was not found to warrant a compensable rating prior to December 18, 2008, but was granted a 10 percent rating beginning that date.

The veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for right knee disability, left ear hearing loss, and hypertension is remanded to obtain additional evidence. The claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis with a history of sinusitis and migraine headaches are also remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, right wrist disability, and hypertension as there is no competent evidence of record demonstrating the Veteran has a current disability in each case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right knee patellofemoral disease and an initial compensable rating for left knee scar, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of the currently assigned levels.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder, left hip disorder to include arthritis, and left knee disorder to include arthritis as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar strain, chronic, with degenerative joint disease and knee disorder as the conditions were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for issuance of a SSOC considering additional evidence, including a July 2008 VA examination report.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right knee tear of the medial meniscus.

The Board remands the claims for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss to schedule VA examinations to determine their etiology.

The appeal for increased ratings for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertensive vascular disease was denied, as the evidence did not support an evaluation greater than 30 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability was denied an increased evaluation as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder, left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and scheduling of a hearing at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina RO.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide the veteran with an appropriate supplemental statement of the case.