Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a head injury, left knee disability, or right ankle disability and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal of all issues in this case, stating that the Veteran was satisfied with his 100 percent rating for hypertension and did not wish to proceed further.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied due to the VA Medical Center (MC) in Decatur, Georgia. The denial stated that his braces did not cause wear or tear on his clothes. However, the Veteran provided evidence showing he used braces and claimed they caused damage to his clothes. The Board has ordered a remand to conduct further examination and review of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pes planus, right knee arthritis, chronic left knee strain, and arthritis of the lumbar spine are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his Tricare treatment records from Moody Air Force Base.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left elbow lateral epicondylitis, degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy and impingement syndrome, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current throat disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, or neck disability that is related to service. The Veteran's complaints and diagnoses are not supported by the medical records provided.

The Veteran withdrew his claims, and the Board does not have jurisdiction over these issues.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development, including a new VA examination and consideration of whether a separate rating under Diagnostic Code 5258 is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is due to aggravation of his pre-existing condition. The claim will be readjudicated after all development is completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, right leg, left leg, and left eye disabilities are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee, right hip, and low back conditions are not related to his active service. The evidence did not show any specific injuries or diagnoses in service, and the medical opinions concluded that the Veteran's conditions were more likely due to natural aging rather than service-related activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the increased rating for right knee disability and service connection for left knee disorder before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development including scheduling a hearing, obtaining updated VA treatment records, and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination to assess his left knee disability. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left leg disability, which he asserts had its onset in service. He was also seeking an initial compensable rating for his left elbow arthritis and an initial compensable rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability.,An additional VA examination is necessary to clarify the specific nature of any current disabilities and to provide opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was denied. The issue of reopening his left knee disability claim has been reopened, but the new evidence does not establish that he currently has a left knee disability or that it is related to service. His PTSD symptoms are manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and right shoulder disabilities are not related to his active military service.,There is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed left foot condition.

The Veteran's post-surgical left knee replacement was restored to a 100% disability rating for the period from April 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012.