Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and PTSD) is granted service connection. The left wrist fracture, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his left knee disability, but denied both his left and right knee disability claims. The Board found no evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee injury, right knee injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, but denied service connection for left hip disability. The right knee issue is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, nasal disability, respiratory disability, sinus bradycardia, and tinea pedis. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or treatment of these disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder strain is also denied.

The Veteran's initial claims for left knee and back disabilities were denied due to lack of qualifying service. After additional records were associated, the VA granted service connection effective August 11, 2019. The Veteran received increased ratings for his left knee disability but was denied higher ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disorders, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders, which are currently secondary to a service-connected T1 vertebrae fracture disability. The appeal as to these issues is remanded.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left ear hearing loss disability, service-connected vertigo, residuals of a T1 vertebrae fracture, residuals of a cranial fracture, paresthesias of the left scalp, and Bell's palsy, left is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee strain, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee DJD, left shoulder DJD and bursitis, right leg fracture residuals, left inguinal hernia, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis (ear), have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition in service or at any time since service that is related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left leg, right knee disorder, right leg disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder as there is no evidence that these conditions had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.,There were no complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of any of these conditions during the Veteran's period of active duty. The available post-service VA and private treatment records do not reflect complaints or diagnoses until many years after his discharge from service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the causes of his disabilities. The 1151 claim is also remanded as there is insufficient evidence on whether VA negligence caused or aggravated the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence linking the conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for dyslipidemia as it is a laboratory finding, not a disability. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's arthritis is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by painful motion and slight instability, is granted with a separate 10 percent rating from June 14, 2011 to December 14, 2014. From December 15, 2014, the Veteran continues to receive a 30 percent rating for his right knee disability under DC 5262.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability (intervertebral disc disease), bilateral knee disability, sleep apnea, and prostate cancer are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service treatment records do not document any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has determined that additional action is required before the decision can be finalized. The claims are being remanded to allow for readjudication of the issues with consideration of new evidence.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of September 18, 2013 for service connection for tinnitus, patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee, patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee, acromioclavicular joint separation, left shoulder, and acromioclavicular joint separation, right shoulder.