Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's eligibility for specially adapted housing is granted due to his permanent and total service-connected disability resulting in a right below the knee amputation and loss of use of both lower extremities. The appeal concerning a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot because he is already eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current right and left knee disabilities, as they may be related to service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and thus requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability had its onset in service or is otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to new evidence indicating that the Veteran's current knee conditions may be related to his active duty service, specifically jumping out of airplanes while wearing a heavy pack.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current left knee medial meniscus tear and right knee degenerative arthritis are not related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in 1971-1972, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder is granted service connection. The left knee injury and right knee injury are denied as not incurred in or related to service. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is also denied. A rating of 10 percent, but no more, for the right wrist condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, granting entitlement to TDIU. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is reopened, but the issue of service connection remains remanded due to need for additional medical opinions. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type I and chronic enuresis are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for determining the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically regarding range of motion testing and consideration of flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The claim for secondary service connection for right leg and rump pain was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a heart condition have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or etiological relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and headaches have been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is not service-connected as it did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.,Diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left knee disability, secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, was not addressed by the January 2013 VA examination. The issue remains remanded for further evaluation.,Bronchitis was diagnosed in January 2018 and is currently under review due to lack of a medical opinion regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depression) has not been addressed by the Board as there has been no attempt to verify the in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD, acne, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and gastrointestinal disorder are all remanded for further examination and opinion. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was caused or aggravated by military service and has granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating requests for higher than 10 percent ratings for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, instability of the right knee, and instability of the left knee have been denied. The current disability ratings are 10% each.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating determinations due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression. The right knee and left ankle disabilities were also denied. Service connection was not granted for the right ankle disability.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella with history of locking of the left knee was also denied.