Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for clothing allowances for a left knee brace and topical medication, diclofenac was denied as the evidence did not support service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since October 1, 2009. The Board has granted an effective earlier date of October 1, 2009 for a TDIU.

The Veteran's below knee amputation, right is remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain all relevant medical records and obtaining an adequate opinion regarding the cause of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,Claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disability were granted due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbar spine strain have been granted service connection. The issue of diabetes mellitus is remanded for further review, as is the right knee pain and cervical spine injury.

The Veteran's low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral hallux valgus with degenerative joint disease, bilateral shin splints (tingling of the bilateral lower extremities), tinea versicolor, migraines, and left shoulder disability are all found to have onset during his period of service from July 1996 to July 2008. As a result, these conditions are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's left inguinal hernia is not considered due to lack of current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability have been denied. The claim for tinnitus has been granted with an effective date prior to January 22, 2020.,The psychiatric disability claim is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant eligibility.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee strain was dismissed. The Board granted a TDIU exclusively due to PTSD from February 4, 2024 and SMC based on housebound status from the same date.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, chronic headaches, skin disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder).

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the January 6, 2016 rating decision denying service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran's claim was subsequently granted with effective date of July 13, 2022.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and limitation of flexion was proper, and the reduction in the schedular rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia with spurring and patellofemoral syndrome was improper. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claim for service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran's private treatment records, including audiometric testing showing right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, support a finding of current diagnosis of hearing loss in both ears. His military occupational specialty as a fire protection specialist is listed on his DD 214 and he worked as a firefighter during active duty, Reserve service, and post-service as a civilian. The Board finds that the Veteran's competent testimony regarding the onset of hearing loss shortly after separation from active duty supports a finding of in-service noise exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for hearing loss is granted.

The appeal concerning the deferred claim of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder pain is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition, a right hip condition, a neck condition, a right knee condition, and sinusitis are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of injury to his right ankle.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right knee scar. The RO must attempt to obtain all available private treatment records from the Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis, DDD (back disability), and right knee arthritis have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 23, 2009, to August 27, 2014.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions were incurred in service due to wear and tear from military activities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and a knee condition have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces caused wear and tear on his clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for 2020.,The use of topical medication Capzasin did not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance as it was not prescribed for a skin condition due to service-connected disability.