Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders. The Veteran's claims were previously denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The Board is remanding the claims for bilateral hip disability and left knee disability to allow further development. The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the ankles remains not established.

The Board has dismissed all the issues on appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for tinnitus, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability are all service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated treatment records and a VA examination of his right knee, right hip/thigh, and scar of the right knee.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since April 2006, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition. The Veteran's left knee strain is rated at 10 percent based on limitation of flexion to 135 degrees.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that new evidence does not relate to any unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The claim for secondary service connection is moot due to the denial of the primary claim.

The Veteran's chronic conditions, including lymphedema of the left leg, diabetes mellitus type II, and spinal stenosis, require regular aid and attendance from another person. The Board has determined that these conditions meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has denied reopening of the claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his combined service-connected disabilities on his employability. The case will be readjudicated after this.

The Board found that the right above-the-knee amputation was not caused by VA's carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The proximate cause was believed to be an infection resulting from a pressure ulcer on the Veteran's heel.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examinations and failure to comply with prior remand orders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis, do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, claimed as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), as secondary to his service-connected status post total left knee replacement. The Board also granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and therefore remands for further development to obtain a medical opinion on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, without consideration of his age or non-service connected disabilities, prevent the Veteran from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been evaluated at the minimum levels allowed by VA regulations. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is granted as service connected. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service injury and current disability, warranting service connection.