Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability and determine whether he has current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities. The examiner must also provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a sinus disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision also noted that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for headaches and right ankle disorders.

The Veteran's left foot disability, characterized by callosities, pes planus, and hammer toes, is currently rated at 30 percent. The maximum schedular rating for this condition has been assigned. The Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder is currently rated at 10 percent.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current back disability and whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are also under review.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities are being remanded for further development to determine the nature of his service connection.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and notification.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis, left knee was granted. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a low back disability was also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids, a higher disability rating for patellar tendonitis of the right knee, and a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities prior to August 6, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with Osgood Schlatter syndrome and left shoulder sprain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including arthritis and a complex tear of the medial and lateral meniscus, is more likely than not due to in-service trauma. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral knee disorders were denied by the Board, with the exception that he was granted a separate 20 percent evaluation for each knee prior to September 15, 1999.

The Veteran's low back strain is not service-connected, but his right knee disorder and hypertension are found to be related to his period of active duty. The claim for costochondritis remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disorder in September 1997, finding no new and material evidence. The claims were remanded multiple times but ultimately remained denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not etiologically related to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's period of military service and his current bilateral lower extremity edema, arthritis of both knees and hips, post-operative degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, post-operative cervical spine disorder, right arm disorder, or residuals of a head injury. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition in service or within one year after service and that his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of whether the appeal should be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development of his claim, including obtaining in-patient records from various military hospitals and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.