Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, and the claim for a low back disability was denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between the current condition and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic headaches and bilateral knee disability, are of sufficient severity to result in unemployability.

The veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred during active service, while a bilateral knee disability and left elbow disorder were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for the prosthetic right knee effective September 1, 2001, but higher ratings are not warranted for other conditions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.

The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for post-operative residuals of a left knee injury with instability, effective July 14, 2008.

The veteran does not have any current disabilities involving his low back, neck, right knee, or ankles.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability do not meet the criteria for ratings in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been granted a rating of 20 percent since August 16, 2003.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for bilateral knee chondromalacia were denied due to insufficient evidence of a verified or potentially verifiable in-service stressor related to the claimed PTSD, and no functional loss that equates with flexion being limited to 60 degrees or less or extension limited to less than 10 degrees for either knee was demonstrated.

The Board found that the veteran's aortic stenosis pre-existed his service and was not aggravated by it, nor was it related to his diabetes mellitus. The veteran's left knee disability did not warrant an initial rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis, right knee conditions, and left knee degenerative changes were denied as the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left knee arthritis and assigned a 40 percent rating for radiculitis of the lower left extremity. However, initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for idiopathic scoliosis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease were denied.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining and reviewing medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional compensation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus; an increased rating for bilateral pes planus; and an increased rating for left peroneal nerve palsy were remanded for additional development.

The veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 30 percent disabling, with a separate rating of 20 percent for pain, locking, and effusion.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, and increased ratings for the low back disorder, right knee disorder, right wrist disorder, left shoulder disorder, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied.

The veteran's migraine headaches are not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent, and the tinea corporis is rated at 30 percent from August 31, 1999.,The veteran's service-connected tinea corporis has been rated appropriately as 30 percent disabling since August 31, 1999.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and the Veteran's military service.