Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for acne was granted. Service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left hand disorder (neuropathy), and right hand disorder (neuropathy) as due to undiagnosed illness were also granted. Service connection for sinusitis and anxiety/depression were denied.

The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The combined disability of the right and left shoulders warrants a 10 percent rating as separate disabilities are not more than zero percent.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) does not warrant an initial compensable rating. Hypertension also does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and left knee status post meniscectomy were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a bilateral wrist disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left leg disability, left ankle disability, and blastocystis nominis. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is not being reopened.

The Veteran's right and left ankle degenerative joint diseases are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's right and left knee degenerative joint diseases are also currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. Higher evaluations are not warranted for any of the conditions.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence indicating a causal relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service, except for tinnitus. Therefore, service connection was denied for all other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability, rated at 10 percent, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as there is no evidence of moderate subluxation or lateral instability, flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 15 degrees, or combination of laxity and limitation of motion due to pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions did not manifest during active service or within one year of service, and are not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders and whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination based on the Veteran's recent testimony about worsening symptoms of his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and right knee disability.

The VA has determined that the appellant's current low back, left knee, and right knee disorders are not service-connected as they are more likely due to natural aging processes rather than injuries sustained during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his degenerative joint disease of the right hip and right knee, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder and numbness of the hands and fingers were not incurred or aggravated during active duty service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and were not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as her knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable rating criteria.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for any of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and knee disorders. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's temporary total rating for convalescence due to right knee surgery was granted until May 31, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not support an extension of this rating beyond May 31, 2005.