Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for stomach, left knee, right knee, and headache disorders.,As such, the original denial of service connection remains in effect.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and right meralgia paresthetica disabilities are already rated appropriately at 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence of negligence or fault on VA's part in the performance of the left knee replacement surgery, and concluded that any current disability is not due to an event reasonably foreseeable.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left knee degenerative arthritis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated as noncompensable, with flexion limited to at least 130 degrees.,Left shoulder strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran has pain but no additional loss of range of motion after repetitive use testing.,Left heel bursitis and right foot plantar fasciitis are both rated as noncompensable, with symptoms including pain, swelling, and orthotic use.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability and therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent for lumbar disc disease with mechanical low back pain or a rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the back with left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled hearing. He requested a rescheduling of his hearing, but it was not done.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease and injury to medial and lateral meniscus, left knee were rated at 10 percent prior to May 4, 2006. The VA examiner found the Veteran had limited range of motion with pain in the medial joint-line and full left knee extension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Veteran's private physician and VA facilities. The Veteran is to provide any necessary authorization forms for these records.

The Veteran's patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee with scar is currently rated at 10 percent, effective January 17, 2012. The arthritis and instability have resulted in limited flexion and extension.

The Veteran does not have tinnitus, a bilateral knee disability, colon polyps, hypertension, PTSD, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy that is related to active service.,There is no evidence of any diagnosed disabilities in the claims file and no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a clarification of whether the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The claims will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is related to his service-connected type II diabetes. The Board has granted the claim for service connection.

The Board found no new evidence to reopen the claims and denied service connection for right knee and foot disorders, as well as a right ankle disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.