Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the appellant's pre-existing right knee condition was not aggravated by his military service, and thus, he cannot establish service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the hips, knees, and shoulders. The Board also finds that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected Lyme disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the submitted evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, while the cervical spine disability with radiculopathy is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the hips, shoulders and knees, are found to preclude substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including an examination of the Veteran's left knee disability. The appeal is currently in the process of being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disorders are at least as likely as not caused by his military service, including rigorous training activities. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for stomach, left knee, right knee, and headache disorders.,As such, the original denial of service connection remains in effect.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and right meralgia paresthetica disabilities are already rated appropriately at 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence of negligence or fault on VA's part in the performance of the left knee replacement surgery, and concluded that any current disability is not due to an event reasonably foreseeable.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left knee degenerative arthritis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated as noncompensable, with flexion limited to at least 130 degrees.,Left shoulder strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran has pain but no additional loss of range of motion after repetitive use testing.,Left heel bursitis and right foot plantar fasciitis are both rated as noncompensable, with symptoms including pain, swelling, and orthotic use.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability and therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent for lumbar disc disease with mechanical low back pain or a rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the back with left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled hearing. He requested a rescheduling of his hearing, but it was not done.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease and injury to medial and lateral meniscus, left knee were rated at 10 percent prior to May 4, 2006. The VA examiner found the Veteran had limited range of motion with pain in the medial joint-line and full left knee extension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Veteran's private physician and VA facilities. The Veteran is to provide any necessary authorization forms for these records.

The Veteran's patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee with scar is currently rated at 10 percent, effective January 17, 2012. The arthritis and instability have resulted in limited flexion and extension.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus, a bilateral knee disability, colon polyps, hypertension, PTSD, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy that is related to active service.,There is no evidence of any diagnosed disabilities in the claims file and no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.