Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is rated at 10 percent, and his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee and left knee are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for a left knee condition is denied, and his service connection claim for residuals of burns to both hands, including arthritis and gout, is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee injuries remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee strain was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not, singly or in combination, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no higher ratings granted for the period under appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of such severity as to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment at any time during the period relevant to this appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the petition to reopen a claim for service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and denied entitlement to service connection for keratoconus, right eye.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal was not timely filed regarding the issues of earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations. As a result, these claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and limitation of flexion but not instability, does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for cervical disc disease since September 26, 2003. The claim for higher ratings remains pending. The Veteran's right knee disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities, but granted service connection for a mild hallux valgus deformity of the left foot with hypertrophic osteophyte formation and calcified density in the first metatarsal phalanx joint. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee scar, which is superficial and not painful on examination, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code. The VA examiners found no limitation of motion or instability due to the scar.