Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss as the conditions were not shown to be related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran was granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee dislocation of the semilunar cartilage, effective December 1, 2003.

The veteran's post-operative residuals of a partial right knee patellectomy were determined not to be aggravated by military service, and therefore, service connection was denied.

The veteran's scar, right foot, was granted a 10 percent evaluation due to pain on palpation.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a right knee disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), and lung scarring due to exposure to asbestos.

The Board remands the claim for a compensable evaluation of the right knee to obtain additional evidence, including updated medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and headaches as they were not related to the veteran's active military service. The effective date of October 15, 1996, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was upheld.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD with chronic low back pain and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for DJD of the left knee, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, alcohol dependence, substance-induced mood disorder and opiate and benzodiazepine abuse, right knee condition, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (claimed as a right leg condition), stomach condition, and residuals of tinea pedis treatment (claimed as jungle rot of the feet) were denied.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for post operative residuals of right anterior cruciate ligament repair was denied, but he was granted a separate 30 percent evaluation for ACL deficiency with instability and recurrent buckling effective March 14, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disability, scars of the right eyelid and forehead, and right eye injury. However, it was found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a right knee disorder were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities, and the in-service complaints did not result in chronic conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings regarding the right knee disability and TDIU are remanded for further development.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not warrant ratings in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Service connection was granted for an adjustment disorder with depressed mood as secondary to the service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left knee, hands, and feet as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The veteran's chronic undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain in the bilateral hands, knees, and feet is presumed to have been incurred during active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities were denied because new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The case was remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's right knee and low back disabilities.