Knee decisions — 2015

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's left knee, right shoulder, or lumbar spine disorders are caused by his service-connected right knee disability. The claims for secondary service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and service treatment records from the Veteran's active duty periods.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a separate bilateral foot disability other than psoriasis, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support higher evaluations for right knee instability or left hip strain.

The Veteran's knee and foot disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 30 percent, effective August 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility to purchase an automobile and adaptive equipment due to loss of use in hands or feet.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the Veteran's hearing loss claim on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for Hanta Virus, IBS, anemia (claimed as blood thinning), left ear disability, skin disability, and leishmaniasis were withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion to no worse than 45 degrees with pain and fatigue, does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's left hip disorder is not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a current bilateral knee disorder or recurring colon polyps.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral pes planus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right shoulder degenerative joint disease and acromioclavicular joint arthropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination. The claims will be adjudicated again based on the new evidence and information.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim for higher rating for right knee disability remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling appropriate examinations, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, low back strain, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that he meets this criterion for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a bilateral knee disability in April 2009, finding that his pain was due to degenerative osteoarthritis and not service-connected.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for instability, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran does not have more than moderate instability or subluxation and there are no findings of severe instability. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, effective July 27, 2011. Service connection has been granted for left knee/left leg disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury. The claim of service connection for bilateral knee disorder remains pending as it was not addressed under a presumptive theory and requires further development.