Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, or left knee disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any extant vocational rehabilitation records. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right leg disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are proximately due to or caused by her service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's PFB warrants a 60 percent initial rating based on constant or near-constant systemic therapy. The other claims are either denied or not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were awarded effective October 1, 2010. The Board finds that the earlier effective dates are denied as a matter of law.

The Board found that the medical treatment provided by SCH on June 25, 2009 did not meet the prudent layperson standard for an emergency condition and thus denied payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses.

The Veteran is granted an annual clothing allowance for the year 2013 due to service-connected disabilities resulting in the need for back and knee braces that cause wear and tear on his outer garments.

The Veteran's right knee disability, prior to February 18, 2009, was manifested by x-ray evidence of arthritis and limitation of flexion. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding of instability or recurrent subluxation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee strain is denied as the symptoms are attributable to his service-connected Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, not his service-connected right knee strain.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left knee disability during service and insufficient continuity of symptoms since separation. The Veteran's current left knee disability is not presumed to have been incurred in service due to the lack of a diagnosis within one year post-service. Therefore, service connection for the left knee disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals of right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear during the relevant periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, knees, elbows, hands, feet, and neck was not incurred or aggravated during his period of active military service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disorders did not manifest during service, are not related to service, and have no connection with a service-connected disability. As such, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy due to herbicide exposure, entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative changes, and entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle strain.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the service connection claims related to low back, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and right foot disabilities. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to further consider these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and referring the claim to the Compensation Service Director for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's TDIU claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are related to service. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral arterial disease of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and right knee gunshot wound scar as they are not shown to be related to service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was also denied for a right knee scar due to lack of evidence showing its presence in service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint disorders, including arthritis of the shoulders, wrists, hands, knees, and ankles. The Board has determined that further investigation into his pre-existing conditions during military service is necessary.