Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and a right knee condition due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to service.

The appellant's PTSD disability was rated at 50 percent, while the lumbar spine and left knee disabilities did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, left knee disability, and insomnia were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a dental condition, bilateral knee conditions, Paget's disease, hearing loss, and back and neck conditions as no new and material evidence was presented to reopen the claim or sufficient evidence linking any of these conditions to military service was provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma preexisted her military service and was not aggravated by it. The veteran's bilateral foot disorder, including pes planus and plantar warts, is presumed to have been aggravated by her military service. The veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The veteran's left knee osteoarthritis does not warrant an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,The veteran's preexisting bilateral foot disorder was aggravated during active military service.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including the scheduling of a proper VA examination and obtaining any outstanding medical records.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a meniscal tear of the left knee was remanded for additional medical examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the veteran.

The claim for service connection for back injury, now claimed as arthralgia of the lumbar spine, is reopened. The claims for service connection for arthralgia of the cervical spine and knees are remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection were denied as the evidence did not support an earlier date than October 19, 2005.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or an increase in severity.

The veteran's right knee disability has not warranted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, as the range of motion is limited to 100 degrees flexion and 5 degrees extension.

The veteran's claims for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus and right below the knee amputation were denied as there was no evidence that his conditions were caused by VA treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, residuals of a right ankle strain, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a right knee injury.

The case is remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with the duty to notify and assist under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's left hip disability warranted a 30 percent evaluation for the period from March 1, 1998 to March 20, 2000 and a 50 percent evaluation beginning on May 1, 2002. The right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 30, 2006, with separate ratings for instability and arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder as there was no evidence of chronic knee pathology in service or within one year after discharge, and the current diagnosis was not related to active duty.

The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for the left medial meniscus tear and a 10 percent rating for degenerative changes of the left knee.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a causal link to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and right knee condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for the back condition and that there was no evidence linking either condition to his military service.