Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and spine disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received since the last VA examination and for consideration of other applicable diagnostic codes in evaluating the Veteran's left knee disability. The claims for higher ratings for a left knee disability and hypertension, as well as service connection for a left foot disability, are also being considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 17, 2009 and May 7, 2009 do not meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728 due to lack of emergency treatment.

The Veteran's above-the-knee amputation of the left leg was caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA healthcare providers during treatment for a diabetic foot ulcer. The Board has determined that this meets the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck lesions and right knee disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the latter claim. The decision also found that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records and a new VA examination for the Veteran's claimed bilateral ankle and knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate prior examinations and the need for further medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations. The residuals, left knee injury, postoperative with surgical scar are currently rated at 30 percent disabling. The left knee medial compartment degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent based on range of motion.

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

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's VA treatment records from the Manchester VAMC to determine if any right knee disorder is related to service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board found that the Veteran's skeletal conditions, including knees, fractured ribs, a scarred lung, and hip, are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and neck disability are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee retropatellar pain is not shown to have resulted in flexion limited to 30 degrees or extension limited to 15 degrees, and the evidence does not support a diagnosis of left knee arthritis or instability. The RO denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as secondary to her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to the service-connected conditions of healed fracture of the left thumb, compression fracture of L2 and L3 with low back strain and lumbarization of S1 vertebra, and left knee strain prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is found to have worsened during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and this worsening was caused by the ACDUTRA. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right hand disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome), finding that her current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.