Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination of his right knee.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the appellant's claims for a temporary total evaluation and service connection for his right knee disability. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative arthritis. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on the diagnostic criteria provided.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are service-connected due to secondary service connection via diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is also service-connected due to secondary service connection via diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's appeal was not timely filed, and thus the Board lacks jurisdiction to consider his claims.

The Board found no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA in treating the Veteran's femoral neck fracture, and ultimately denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right above-the-knee amputation.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain missing VA treatment records and to further evaluate the Veteran's cause of death, including the role of his service-connected conditions in contributing to his demise.

The Board found that the Veteran's complaints regarding his bilateral ankles, knees, left shoulder, and abdominal muscles are not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as arthritis, was manifested during active military service and granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected shell fragment wound of the left thigh.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and limited range of motion, is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5258 (dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion) and 5010 (degenerative arthritis). The Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before another Veterans Law Judge at his local Regional Office.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his military service and denies service connection for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his request for a hearing and this appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left ear, and right knee injuries were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's knee symptoms were not chronic in service and did not manifest within a year of separation. The current knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of an initial compensable rating for hiatal hernia and service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, as well as entitlement to service connection for chest pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including choreiform movement disorder and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment due to his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions, as they may be related to his active duty service.