Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain private treatment records from the Regional Medical Center in Albany, New York and for the Veteran to submit lay statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for his left 5th toe proximal phalanx fracture. The evidence did not establish new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice of a change in his hearing request. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to unavailability of service treatment records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in active service and granted. The claims for increased evaluations of her lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for refractive error of the eyes, right and left knee disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and macular hole of the right eye are also denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disorder due to disease or injury from service. The Veteran's complaints were not supported by medical evidence, and the VA examiner concluded he does not have a current bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his right knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 27, 2014 and since then.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied due to the lack of evidence showing that her service-connected disabilities cause wear and tear on her clothing. The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and arranging a physical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder, including a total right knee replacement, is service-connected. The low back and right foot disorders are also found to be related to his right knee condition. However, further medical examination and opinion are needed for the claims of increased evaluation for postoperative residuals of tenorrhaphy and neurorrhapy of the right hand.

The Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities have been rated at the minimum levels allowed by law, with no evidence of additional impairment warranting higher ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The Veteran is advised to submit a statement of the case on the issue of an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's status-post right knee meniscectomy with osteoarthritis was productive of painful motion, but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on actual or functional extension limited to 15 degrees; actual or functional flexion limited to 30 degrees; recurrent subluxation or lateral instability; ankylosis; dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint; impairment of the tibia and fibula; or genu recurvatum.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for bilateral knee internal derangement from March 10, 2014. The Veteran's knees had limited flexion and extension.

The Board has found the previous VA examination inadequate and remanded for another examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with right plantar fasciitis and right knee patellar dislocation were granted increased ratings of 30 percent effective November 4, 2015.

Service connection has been established for all the claimed conditions effective November 4, 2005. As such, there are no remaining issues in controversy.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected left ankle disability, thus denying both claims.