Knee decisions — 2015

The VA determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a meniscal tear, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability, and scheduling a VA Social Industrial Survey. The issues on appeal are an increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with sciatic nerve involvement and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw all his appeals except for the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right knee arthritis post meniscectomy is found to have its onset in service and the Board finds that the evidence supports granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as postoperative residuals of a right partial medial meniscectomy, was found to have limited motion (flexion up to 70 degrees and extension up to zero degrees) without instability. The Board denied an increase in the rating for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and right knee pain have been denied. The claim for chronic low back pain remains pending due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate another matter on appeal, specifically his left foot disability under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's postoperative residuals of a right knee injury, finding that his symptoms included knee pain and limitation of motion with flexion greater than 60 degrees and extension to 0 degrees. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of subluxation or instability.

The Veteran's right knee conditions have been evaluated as degenerative arthritis with no greater than mild tricompartmental arthritis, but without instability or ankylosis. The current evaluation of 10 percent is deemed appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for internal hemorrhoids and right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, as well as his heart disease and hypertension, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show an injury, disease, or event pertaining to these conditions in service, nor was there continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for severe obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a bilateral knee disability due to new evidence. The claims are otherwise denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of a left leg injury and arthritis of the left knee did not have their clinical onset in service or are otherwise related to his active service. The VA examiner concluded there is no nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for injuries sustained on July 31, 1976.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the underlying merits of these claims remain pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to evaluate the level of functional impairment caused by the Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including diabetes with possible peripheral neuropathy, glaucoma, depression, hypertension, and various orthopedic disabilities affecting the knees, hands, and feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right shoulder, cervical spine, dementia, tinnitus, or left knee disability that is service-connected. The evidence shows no current disabilities and there is insufficient credible evidence to link any of these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a copy of the examiner's credentials.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disorders are not service-connected as they were not shown in service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The initial rating for post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee remains unchanged.