Knee decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals, left knee injury with chondromalacia, remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee chondromalacia was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 30, 2008 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent from August 1, 2008 to January 27, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability, dry eyes with history of inner canthus papilloma, and hypertension have been denied. The initial rating assigned for each condition is 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, degenerative changes of the right knee as residuals of a knee injury, and skin disorders, to include cancer were denied. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder secondary to knee disorders and benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for an additional gastrointestinal disability.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee with subsequent total knee replacement, finding that it was effectively granted in a March 1994 decision. The issue of an increased rating for chondromalacia of the left knee remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Board has determined that the appellant's abdominal surgeries did not result in additional disability due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. Therefore, the claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, hallux rigidus (bilateral), right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the Veteran's right knee disorder and service-connected nerve entrapment and inguinal hernia repair.

The Veteran's left knee arthrotomy has not manifested by locking, ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum; flexion of the left knee has been limited to 90 degrees and extension has always been to zero degrees.,The Veteran's right knee meniscectomy has not manifested by locking, ankylosis, recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum; flexion of the right knee has been limited to 50 degrees and extension has always been to zero degrees.,The Veteran's left ankle disability has not manifested by ankylosis, malunion of the os calcis or astragulus, astragalectomy or marked limitation of motion.,The Veteran's left thumb disability has never manifested by ankylosis or inability to oppose the thumb.,The Veteran's tinea versicolor does not affect the head, face or neck or involve scarring; it has manifested by hyperpigmented lesions that do not affect at least 20 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, and has never required systemic therapy.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a bilateral knee condition, and a back condition were denied. The Board found that there is no evidence establishing current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of an injury or disease incurred in service. The appellant's spontaneous pneumothoraxes and knee disabilities are not considered to be service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral foot disorder, fatigue, joint pain of elbows and wrist, low back disorder, skin rash, bilateral ankle condition, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected low back pain and bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been manifested by limited range of motion and degenerative changes, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service records do not show any scars of the right buttock, inner left arm, left knee, or left ankle. The Board finds no current disability to support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher schedular evaluations under applicable diagnostic codes.