Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claimed disabilities have not been linked to his military service and are attributed to known clinical diagnoses. The Board denied the claim for service connection as there is no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability that became manifest during active duty or within a prescribed presumptive period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not start in or within one year of separation from active duty.,His left and right knee conditions are also not service-connected, with the Board finding no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities, have resulted in loss of use of his legs for the purposes of eligibility for specially adapted housing. Additionally, he is eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new VA medical center records being added to his case file since the February 2017 Supplemental Statement of the Case. The AOJ is required to consider these additional records and issue a new Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for residuals of right fourth metacarpal fracture was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.,Service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee joint replacement surgery, based on aggravation of a pre-existing right knee injury is granted.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee joint replacement surgery, based on aggravation of a pre-existing left knee injury is granted.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee condition, tinnitus, and depressive disorder as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to service. The case will be returned for further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for right knee instability and tenosynovitis, as well as entitlement to a separate 20% rating for right knee meniscal tear. The issue of TDIU prior to March 3, 2006 is also being remanded.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for depression has been reopened.,Claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, right lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy have all been dismissed as freestanding claims. The original decisions granting these conditions were final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to February 17, 2013, for the grant of service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating increase and service connection due to new evidence of worsening left knee condition and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his autoimmune disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and denied. The claim for service connection for a left knee condition is also denied.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left knee and hepatitis B and C are denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis is remanded for further examination, and his TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for a left knee disorder due to inadequate examination reports and the need for further medical opinions regarding the relationship between current conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the condition and that continuity of symptomatology had not been established. The Board also found that the current severity of the left knee condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to his right knee and thumb disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the claims for service connection for headache disorder and a left knee disorder. The Veteran did not indicate disagreement with any of the four determinations made in the December 2018 rating decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities had their onset during service.