Knee decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability, headaches, bilateral knee disability, and an initial compensable rating for sinusitis with allergies. The decision found that there was no evidence supporting additional low back or neck disabilities due to VA treatment in 1999, and concluded that the Veteran did not have sufficient underlying pathology to support his complaints of chronic back pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability. The claim will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. A VA examination will be conducted to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorder and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded for additional development to determine if they are related to her service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of left knee arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with nontender scars and left knee pain and laxity, finding that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for the service-connected left knee patellar fracture residuals and right knee chondromalacia patella were denied. The appeal is not about service connection, as a claim for PTSD was not addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability of the right fourth digit (ring finger) is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability of one or both elbows is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,VA has not provided examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right fourth digit (ring finger), low back, or right knee.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hepatitis C, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The initial compensable evaluation for service-connected pes planus is also being remanded.

The Veteran is entitled to receive two annual clothing allowances due to his use of a prosthetic arm and wheelchair for service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied. The evidence did not show incapacitating exacerbations, ankylosis, subluxation or lateral instability, cartilage dislocation, malunion of the tibia and fibula, limitation of flexion to 30 degrees, limitation of extension to 15 degrees, or malunion of the tibia and fibula. The Veteran's right knee disability was rated as 10 percent disabling under DCs 5260 and 5261.

The Veteran's left knee disability, rated at 10 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on symptoms such as instability or limitation of motion. The current rating adequately reflects his service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral hip conditions. The Veteran's right hand condition was not granted an effective date earlier than July 30, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for visual disturbance, poor concentration, lupus erythematosus, Reiter's syndrome, a cervical spine disorder, a left knee disorder, and PTSD are denied. The claim for service connection for mental disturbance/trauma flashback is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected mechanical low back pain and for service connection for a right knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant's hip and knee disorders, GERD, migraine headaches, and gynecological disorder are related to her service. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's trochanteric bursitis of the left hip was not shown to be related to his service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as left and right elbow disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to the RO for further development, including additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection under the applicable rating criteria.