Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a right knee disability with arthritis have been denied as there is no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or injury related to the current conditions, respectively.

The Veteran's pes planus of the right foot is found to have been incurred in service, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issues regarding nerve damage of bilateral feet and legs are also addressed, with a determination that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an above-the-knee amputation of the right leg and major depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran's right leg amputation was not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected condition, including his low back disability. The Board also found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder did not have its onset in service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not meet the criteria for compensation under Section 1151 due to lack of evidence showing VA carelessness, negligence, or fault in providing hospital care resulting in additional disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder with headaches, left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral foot disorder have been granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability are all found to be service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral shin splints, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board found no current left knee disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disability, ulcers, or PTSD due to personal assault. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not manifested by persistent bleeding, anemia, fissures, nor are they large or thrombotic.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to her military service and denied all claims for service connection.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis are inextricably intertwined, necessitating further development of his case. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical records from Dr. T.R. Sexton and any other relevant providers.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined to be 70 percent disabling. However, the evidence does not show that these conditions alone prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has granted a separate evaluation of 10 percent for right-sided mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve and 20 percent for left-sided moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee disorder is not related to his military service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current hypertension and hypertensive heart disease did not manifest during service, is not otherwise shown to be causally or etiologically related to service, and is not shown to have manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year from the date of separation from service. The Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for extraschedular ratings for his service-connected bilateral pes planus, low back disability, and iliotibial friction band syndrome of both knees. The criteria for an extraschedular rating were not met in any of these cases.