Knee decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing the Veteran has a cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, residuals of head trauma, or post-traumatic headaches related to service. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting examinations to address the nature of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee is being remanded due to a need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service combat-related acoustic trauma and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture and medial meniscus tear of the right knee, as well as arthritis of the right knee, have been denied by the RO. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for the knee prior to April 21, 2005, and since July 1, 2005, or a rating higher than 10 percent for arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claim for a right knee condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The claim was ultimately denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for moderate degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding that his condition had its onset during service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic left knee and ankle disorders, as well as an increased rating for his right knee disability. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for a temporary total disability evaluation, service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to her right knee condition, and increased evaluations for her right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board notes that the Veteran did not require convalescence following surgery on her right knee, and there is insufficient evidence to determine if her left knee condition is related to her right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling the Veteran for an orthopedic examination, and requesting a determination on whether service connection should be granted for right knee and right shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues was granted, with the exception of right knee disability which was withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board found that the Veteran has PTSD and tinnitus due to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee arthritis as secondary to a service-connected right knee disorder. The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee arthritis is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and spine disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his cause of death, which was due to ischemic heart disease. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, right and left knee disabilities, and a left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's reported stressor was found not to have occurred, her current knee and shoulder disabilities were not linked to service, and her immersion syndrome in service is considered the earliest manifestation.

The Board has denied service connection for right wrist, right knee and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of competent evidence showing current disability or in-service injury. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, considering his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's cervical spine disc disease with right shoulder pain and right forearm paresthesia is rated at 20 percent prior to June 23, 2004. Effective from June 23, 2004, the Veteran is rated at 20 percent for the orthopedic manifestations of cervical spine disc disease and 10 percent for the neurologic manifestations. The Veteran's degenerative joint diseases are each rated at 10 percent. Bilateral hearing loss is not compensable. Retinal detachments have no associated rating.