Knee decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as secondary service connection for hip disorders to include as secondary to knee disorders. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that he had pre-existing knee conditions prior to military service which worsened during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability, tinnitus, and a right knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder. However, the medical evidence does not support a finding that the current right knee disability is related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities were granted effective April 29, 1999. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and the relationship between his bilateral hip arthralgia and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, low back disorder, and PTSD. The claim for a right knee disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The low back disorder and PTSD were also not shown to be incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is attributable to service and was granted service connection. The claims for anal fissures, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for left knee/leg disorder, right knee/leg disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during or within one year after service, as well as the absence of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension at the housebound rate due to his age and multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 80 percent.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing is granted due to his service-connected disabilities. However, he is precluded from receiving a special home adaptation grant as he already qualifies for the acquisition of specially adapted housing.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee scars, finding that the evidence did not show a marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to the condition. The current level of disability was found to be noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her active duty service. The claim for chest pain was granted based on the presumption that it occurred during ACDUTRA, but not related to any pre-existing condition. Service connection for GERD and right knee disorder were both denied.,The Veteran's chest pain claim was granted as presumed due to ACDUTRA exposure, while her service connection claims for anemia and right knee disorder were denied based on lack of a current disability or no evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying dates of service. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right knee is rated at 10 percent, and his instability of the right knee (status post meniscectomy) is rated at 20 percent since September 19, 2008.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disorder, effective from November 19, 2007. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for right knee instability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for a right knee disorder. The Veteran's statements indicate he was physically fit upon enlistment but do not provide any clinical records supporting this assertion.

The Board denied service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, headaches, residuals of head trauma, dizziness, and residuals of a right knee injury due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's onychomycosis of the toes is service-connected, and his peripheral vascular disease, polyneuropathy, and arthritis of the knees are not service-connected due to lack of a nexus. His loss of bone (maxilla) for compensation purposes due to injury involving #7 and #8 teeth is also service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral foot disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed bilateral foot disability.