Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded two issues: the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and the eligibility for specially adapted housing. For the hearing loss, a new VA examination is needed to assess its current severity. For the specially adapted housing, an examination is required to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hepatitis C were previously denied, but new evidence was submitted after his death. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic and hepatitis C virus infection is denied as none of his service-connected disabilities were a principal or contributory cause of death.

Service connection for left knee arthritis is granted. A separate rating of at least 10 percent for limitation of motion associated with residuals of fracture of left tibia with patellar chondromalacia is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied because the evidence did not establish that her current condition is related to her military service. The June 2008 rating decision found no diagnosed right knee disability and noted she failed to provide medical evidence of one.

The Board determined the Veteran is not entitled to an extraschedular rating for his service-connected low back disorder.,The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are secondary to his service-connected low back disorder.,The preponderance of evidence also does not support a finding that the Veteran is unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's OSA was not incurred in service and is not related to a service-connected disability.,A cervical spine disability was not incurred in service and is not related to a service-connected disability.,Service connection for bilateral knee gouty arthritis as secondary to service-connected gout is granted.,Service connection for left ankle gouty arthritis as secondary to service-connected gout is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection and increased rating for knee conditions, as well as a low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 18, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no limitation of motion or instability severe enough to warrant an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for tendonitis of the right knee and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that there was no current disability due to service. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding his in-service injury was not supported by medical evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claim is now pending for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support aggravation or pre-existing condition during service and concluding that any current right knee disability is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The claim for increased ratings for the right ankle disability is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 27, 2010 for the grant of service connection for a scar associated with right knee reconstruction. The Veteran's claim was received on that date and she is now entitled to compensation for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability was reopened but not granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, erectile dysfunction, memory loss disability, and bipolar disorder. The decision is based on a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for chronic right knee sprain, degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, and chronic right hip sprain.,The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's in-service injuries or events.

The Board has determined that there is relative equipoise in whether the Veteran's DJD of the right knee and DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine are caused by or related to his service-connected DJD of the right ankle. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability caused damage to his clothing, and the Board granted a clothing allowance for 2014.