Knee decisions — 2009

The Board has granted service connection for syncope as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, both as secondary to syncope, and the request to reopen the claim for residuals of fracture of the left foot are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence supporting a relationship between his current disability and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran has residuals of a right knee sprain that occurred during service and the Board finds these residuals are related to his in-service injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right knee, left foot, and right foot disabilities are all service-connected as direct service connection was established based on medical evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and fibula have been shown to result in no more than overall moderate knee disability, which does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee arthritis and instability, as well as his right knee degenerative joint disease, were denied by the RO. The RO maintained the current ratings of 30 percent for left knee arthritis (post ligament reconstruction), 10 percent for left knee instability, and 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's right hip disability is not service-connected, and her claims for increased rating of the right knee and psychiatric disabilities are denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied right ankle disability was also denied.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities of the right knee, low back, right wrist, or right ankle that were incurred in service or related to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a left knee injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, left hand disability, cold weather injury of both hands, right wrist disability, and right ankle disability were denied as there is no evidence to support the assertions that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria has been denied as there is no evidence of malaria in or after service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and increased the rating for right knee disability. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while his right knee impairment is rated based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and denied service connection for a broken fourth finger of the right hand. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for fracture of the right fifth metacarpal is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, alcohol abuse and dysthymic disorder is rated at 70 percent effective from June 21, 2007. The Veteran also has a 10 percent rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome. Service connection was granted for hypertension as secondary to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral arthritis are being remanded. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for back spasms secondary to an epidural is also being remanded.

The Board has denied both the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity disorders, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and another 10 percent for instability, resulting in a total rating of 20 percent. The appeal is denied as the current ratings adequately reflect his disability.