Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for decreased vision in the right eye and denied higher initial ratings for postoperative residuals of a tear of the right anterior cruciate ligament and instability of the right knee.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder and lower spine disorder, finding that both conditions are related to the veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder.

The Board remands the case for a VA examination to determine whether the veteran's left ankle, knee and hip disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions as there was no evidence of an inservice injury or disease and a nexus to his current disabilities.

The veteran was granted an initial rating of 30 percent for his service-connected sarcoidosis and restrictive lung disease, effective from April 1, 2004.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of both knees and the right patella disability were not found to be more severe than currently rated, as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's right knee disability was rated as 10 percent disabling, and a separate 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability was granted. The left knee and both feet were not found to warrant compensable ratings.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's right knee chondromalacia, both based on limitation of motion and instability.

The veteran's service-connected extrinsic asthma is rated at 30 percent, and he was granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and a chronic left wrist sprain.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of the service-connected status post compression fracture at L4, and the issue is dismissed.

The veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee was granted as of February 7, 2007. Service connection for left hip pain was denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and increased evaluations for bilateral knee disabilities, focusing only on PTSD.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support an earlier date than January 13, 2006.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right hand, left hand, right foot, and left foot disabilities, and a total right knee and left hip replacement were denied. Service connection was granted for scarring of the left tympanic membrane.

The Board denied service connection for left knee strain as there was no evidence of a current disability and the veteran's assertions alone were not competent to show she has a diagnosed disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his service-connected scar of the right index finger and that there was no basis to increase the 10 percent ratings for osteoarthritis in the knees.

The veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his current symptoms.

The veteran's bilateral knee disability, primarily diagnosed as Osgood Schlatter's disease, clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, and there is no competent evidence of record that the condition was incurred in or aggravated during service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome and bilateral shin splints are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The veteran's bilateral knee disability (patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease, and history of healed proximal tibial stress reaction) is not productive of limitation of extension, lateral instability, or subluxation, and is not productive of limitation of flexion of 60 degrees or less.