Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating of left knee disability due to inadequate range of motion testing in a previous VA examination. A new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability, which remains in dispute.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's request for a clothing allowance due to the use of VA-issued bilateral knee braces in 2012 is denied because his knee braces do not qualify as a qualifying appliance under VA law, and there is no evidence showing they cause damage to clothing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for bilateral foot disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability, right knee partial medial meniscectomy and medial plica excision, right long finger disability, left thumb disability, and right thumb disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that he must cooperate with VA in obtaining evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and limited extension, is rated at 30 percent effective June 1, 2016. The Veteran also received separate ratings for flexion limitation (10%) and status post meniscal surgery (10%).

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a bilateral eye disability (due to diabetes mellitus), and service connection for left knee and leg disabilities have been denied. The case is REMANDED for further development regarding the Veteran's left foot disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, requiring a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is productive of painful motion, with flexion limited to 90 degrees and extension at 0 degrees. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent has been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including right knee meniscal tear and left knee chondromalacia with arthritis, are currently rated at the lowest possible levels due to their limited functional impairment. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, a disability manifested by a loss of feeling in the right hand, and a left ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, bilateral ankle, low back, and left elbow disorders due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities. The appeals are being remanded to obtain additional service records.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities. The main reasons are that there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if the lung disability (asbestosis) and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are related to service, particularly given the Veteran's reports of asbestos exposure during service. Additionally, the Board finds it necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s current degenerative arthritis of the left knee is aggravated by his service-connected Pellegrini-Steida disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, right hip, and low back disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need VA examinations to address whether his current disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, obesity, and other factors.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there is no probative evidence showing he was exposed to herbicide agents during his service.,The Veteran's claim for right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active service.,The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are denied because there is insufficient evidence to establish a secondary relationship with diabetes mellitus, type II.