Knee decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin peeled off left hand, bilateral knee disability (arthritis), and right foot heel spur and problems with abnormal growth in bone are all denied as there is no competent, probative evidence of current disabilities or a medical nexus to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to higher disability ratings or service connection based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his request for a higher disability rating for his right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability results in pain but does not result in motion limited to less than 120 degrees of flexion or to other than zero degrees of extension, and does not result in any instability or subluxation. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to VA's failure in obtaining relevant medical records, including physical therapy documents.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and addressing specific questions about preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, as he requires assistance with activities such as grooming, preparing meals, and keeping himself safe from the hazards of his daily environment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her right hip and right knee disabilities, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling an examination by a knowledgeable orthopedic physician.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and a right knee disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his PTSD was granted, but he has not indicated satisfaction with the highest possible evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected conditions were denied. The RO maintained the original ratings of 10 percent for GERD, right and left knee strains, lumbar strain, and right wrist tendinitis post excision of ganglion cyst.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board also finds that the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and left upper extremity, which are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that they are related to the Veteran's service-connected foot and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and determining the Veteran's duty status during a military funeral. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for an audiological examination to determine if he currently has hearing loss or tinnitus that arose during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right foot disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected left foot amputation or low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee instability and residuals of GSW of the right leg muscle group XI with healed fracture, right tibia are rated at 20 percent each. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for these conditions under Diagnostic Code 5311.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The Veteran's STRs were negative for complaints or diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, right knee injury, and headaches with shrapnel wounds of the head were denied as there is no evidence of additional disabling symptomatology that would warrant separate ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5010-5003 and 5257.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and effective date have been withdrawn. The claims of emphysema, hypertension, coronary artery disease as secondary to hypertension, right knee disability, and arthritis of the left hand were previously denied by final decisions. New evidence submitted since those decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, and left thumb disability are all found to be service-connected. The combined rating for these conditions is at least as high as the schedular requirement for TDIU.