Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left knee and ankle disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 11, 2011. The claims for hypertension and anxiety/depressive disorder were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hip disorder, ankle disorders, and lumbar spine disorder are all denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities related to his knee disorders, elbow disorders, shoulder disorders, neck/cervical spine disorder, low back/lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorder, hip disorders, or hand disorders. Additionally, there is no indication that the Veteran's hearing loss disability was incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its onset during service, within one year of discharge from active service, or due to any other cause. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and right knee condition have all been denied. The Board finds no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral shin splints and any related knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee condition is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his condition and whether he has arthritis in his left knee. The case will be returned to the Board after obtaining more contemporaneous medical evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is not related to his service-connected right knee replacement and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and sciatica are not service-connected as they do not have a direct relationship to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee strain, residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and fibula, right ankle degenerative joint disease, and left eye corneal inferior scar, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claim, but further examination is needed to determine if his current right knee condition is related to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition, to include as secondary to his right knee disability, was denied because no evidence of such condition was found. The Board also determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability does not warrant an increased rating beyond 20 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 30 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of severe painful motion or weakness in either knee.,Service connection has been established for bilateral shoulder disability.