Knee decisions — 2009

The veteran's lumbar spine disability is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 40 percent, and the left knee disability is not entitled to an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The case is remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, inversion laxity of the left and right ankles, and a comminuted fracture of the right middle finger were granted with 10% ratings effective May 6, 2006.

The veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been found to be no more than 10 percent disabling since October 20, 2003.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back, knee and stomach disorders.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased disability rating for right ankle arthritis was not timely filed and must be dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection on a secondary basis to an examiner for an examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a disability of the intestines, a back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his suicide was due to mental unsoundness associated with depression resulting from his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the case for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current knee disorders.

The Veteran was granted a rating of 20 percent for her left knee strain, as the evidence showed subjective complaints of pain and locking with objective findings of fissured cartilage, effusion, crepitation, and flexion limited by pain and swelling to no less than 95 degrees.

The Veteran's service-connected right peroneal neuropathy was rated at 40 percent, and he was granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the right peroneal neuropathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disability and a more thorough evaluation of scars on the left arm.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the right knee and left hand, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The case was remanded for further development, including rescheduling the Veteran for a VA examination and issuing another supplemental statement of the case with the correct ZIP code.