Knee decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, including an MRI scan from late 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right shoulder disability, and a bilateral knee disability were denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred during service and is not related to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural errors and insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that they met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's back, left hip, left leg, and left knee disabilities did not have onset during active service and are not otherwise etiologically related to his active service from June 1981 to March 1984. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip and left knee conditions are not related to his service-connected right knee disability.,The evidence did not support a finding of secondary service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his attempts to reopen previously denied claims were also unsuccessful. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any presumptive exposure. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to support a secondary service connection claim based on his left ankle disorder.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral knee disorder was incurred during his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's knee, foot, toe disabilities, and cardiovascular disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a right knee disability, bilateral shin splints, or transient ischemic attacks.,As such, the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right knee disability, and reactive airway disease were granted with the assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the residuals of right lateral meniscectomy warrant a 20% rating, which is already at its maximum under Diagnostic Code 5258. For degenerative joint disease of the right knee, the Board determined it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation beyond the current 10% rating.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected major depression and related conditions, which were contributory causes of his death. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his untimely death.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of his symptoms, with a current evaluation of 20 percent for lateral collateral ligament laxity and 10 percent for severe tricompartment degenerative joint disease. The Board finds that these evaluations are appropriate given the objective findings.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation, increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities have been denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected post-operative residuals of a left knee meniscectomy is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back disabilities are related to his service-connected foot disability, granting secondary service connection for these conditions.