Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including leg pain, knee pain, and urinary incontinence. The claim will be readjudicated based on the results of this survey.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional records, including those related to back surgery. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and his left knee disability with medial meniscectomy is also rated at 30 percent. Both conditions are characterized by symptoms consistent with the assigned ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Veteran's current hearing loss and right knee disorder were not shown during service or within one year thereafter, and the VA examiner found no nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's claims for low back, left ankle, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of right total knee replacement resulted in a 60% disability rating. Service connection was granted for left and right hip disorders as secondary to the service-connected right knee disorder, but no new evidence or reopening of claims was provided.

The Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for the 2012 and 2013 calendar years are denied as there is no evidence that his prescribed orthopedic appliances or topical medication caused wear and tear on his clothing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that arthritis of both knees was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by service-connected lumbar myositis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and left knee reconstruction surgery do not warrant disability ratings in excess of their current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need to confirm an in-service accident and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, a bilateral knee disorder (secondary to bilateral pes planus), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression). The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and records. The issues include rating the right shoulder disorder, evaluating bilateral knee disorders, determining service connection for left hip, right ankle, and neck disorders, and seeking service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD) status post arthroscopy with partial medial meniscectomy, is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The preponderance of evidence does not show that the Veteran had presumptive exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange, nor is there probative evidence of exposure to such. As for diabetes mellitus type II, the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The appeal is now pending and will be heard again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection is sought, specifically bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims are denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service treatment records and other relevant medical records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and a left ankle disability. The Veteran contends that these disabilities were incurred during active service, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and review of VA outpatient records.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records, which may be held by various entities including his Reserve units and hospitals in Korea and Japan. The case is therefore being remanded for these actions.