Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hammer toe of the left fifth digit, right knee disability, and left knee disability as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability.,Service connection was granted for a left great toe disability with arthritis.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluations for left shoulder and right knee disabilities are denied. The case is remanded to determine if service connection can be established for a left knee strain secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability and TBI residuals, were denied. The claim for service connection for the right shoulder was reopened due to new evidence, but the claim is still denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or current condition related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable initial disability rating for traumatic brain injury and a higher disability rating for right knee, narrowing of medial joint space are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance for his left knee brace was denied because the evidence did not document continued use of the device, including no sign of recent maintenance or replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, back, neck and right ankle disabilities are being remanded for further examination to assess their severity.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for a left knee injury were denied because the treatment was not considered an emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's back condition is granted as service connected.,Hypertension, claimed as high blood pressure, is denied as not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right knee disability as it found that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for right leg peripheral vascular disease with right below knee amputation, left leg peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension due to potential herbicide exposure in Vietnam. A new VA examination is needed to consider this new finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to ensure that her lumbar spine, right hip, and right knee disabilities are evaluated in accordance with VA examination standards. The issues of rating her degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine, limitation of flexion of the right hip, and patella chondromalacia of the right knee remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and requests for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities due to a need for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining retrospective medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and symptomatology.

The Veteran's walker does not cause wear and tear to her clothing, so she is denied a clothing allowance for the 2016 calendar year.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of a current diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.,Regarding service connection for cardiovascular disease, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or as secondary to PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current condition and any in-service exposures or service-connected conditions. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, IBS, and a left knee condition are granted. The lower back, bilateral shoulder, and neck conditions remain pending as the evidence is not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating prior to his right knee replacement was denied as the current 10 percent rating adequately compensates for his symptoms, including pain. The issue of increased rating after surgery is remanded.