Knee decisions — 2016

The Appellant does not have a right eye disorder that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service. The Board finds no current diagnosis for a left knee disorder.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from his National Guard service dating after April 2006 and updated VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for further adjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right femur disability, left femur disability, and right knee disability. The psychiatric disability other than a major depressive disorder remains on appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limited range of motion and pain, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from July 2, 2010 to May 5, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's right leg and right knee disabilities are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, thus denying these claims.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including initial ratings for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and left total knee replacement, as well as effective date claims. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for development and readjudication consistent with the directives of the Court's Memorandum Decision.

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have or had arthritis of either hand, a left knee disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis, or hemorrhoids during the appellate period. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes, as they do not demonstrate compensable limitation of motion or occasional incapacitating exacerbations.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, but granted service connection for bilateral ulnar neuropathy (CTS or CTS) as the Veteran currently has a disability manifested by the same symptoms of bilateral hand pain and decreased dexterity that were manifested during service. The other issues remained in denial.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids, tinea pedis (athlete's foot), asthma, a disability manifested by chest pain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone or in combination have resulted in loss of use of one lower extremity (left) together with residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. Therefore, she is eligible for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and right knee disability, finding that these disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the left foot neuropathy was not present until multiple years after service, and is not otherwise related to service. For the knees and back, the criteria for higher ratings have not been met.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits as they are not productive of total disability and he is not permanently and totally disabled due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, left knee disability, and bilateral pes planus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, heart disability, right knee and back disabilities, neck disability, psychiatric disability, and low energy, have been denied.,A compensable rating of 10 percent has been granted for hypertension.

The Board found no CUE in the June 1970 rating decision that granted service connection for a wound, right leg with residuals of thrombophlebitis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee was not addressed because it was reasonable to conclude based on the evidence at the time that he did not have a current right knee disability related to his punji stick injury.