Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for Bell's Palsy, bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy, bilateral hip disability, and right knee disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,The effective date for service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type, has not been advanced beyond February 17, 2009. The Veteran did not file an earlier claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for readjudication due to new evidence and argument submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and bilateral patellofemoral knee syndrome have not resulted in compensable ratings.,Service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied in a December 2012 rating decision. The Board found that the evidence did not show his bilateral hearing loss disability had increased since his last VA examination, and thus no new examination was warranted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee condition. However, the Veteran's current right knee condition is less likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee internal derangement.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees and glaucoma due to incomplete records. The Veteran's treatment records from various healthcare providers need to be obtained, including those from Drs. B, R, D, W, and Steadman-Hawkins Clinic.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease of the right hip and bilateral knee disorder are denied as there is no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin condition, right and left eye vision impairment, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine arthritis, and prostate cancer. The evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection in most cases.

The Veteran's service connection claims for respiratory disorder, right and left knee disabilities, right and left wrist disorders, right and left ankle disorders, and tinnitus have been denied.,Initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran’s right and left knee disabilities were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition and a bilateral knee condition, both of which are considered direct service connections based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various ankle, hip, and knee disabilities as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee condition is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for hypercholesterolemia is denied. The Board finds that high cholesterol is not a disability for which VA compensation benefits are payable.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's knee conditions due to his death.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for psychiatric disorders, knee disabilities, wrist disability, shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The RO is directed to issue a Statement of the Case on the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Veteran's right knee impairment was incurred during active service and is now granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims. The Board will consider whether new evidence supports reopening his right knee disorder claim, but will not make a decision on that issue.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and skin condition is granted. The claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, and skin condition are remanded.

The Veteran's left total knee arthroplasty is rated at 60 percent from April 1, 2015 to July 18, 2016 and from November 1, 2016 to September 19, 2017. The Board also granted a TDIU effective April 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right leg disorder is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a left leg disorder has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the issue of entitlement to service connection remains remanded.