Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders is granted. However, the claims are denied as there is no evidence that the knee disorders are secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, right knee and fibula disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral pes planus is granted. Initial ratings of 10% are assigned for each condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected, and remanded for further development. The appeals for right hand, left hand, and sinusitis disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and temporary total evaluations need to be remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the periods from September 2, 2011 to December 11, 2012, and from February 2, 2013 to December 3, 2016. The issue was dismissed prior to June 19, 2011 and from December 4, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for DJD of the right hip and right knee strain, both secondary to service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of both knees due to insufficient evidence from a recent VA examination. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination to provide updated information on his knee conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine, right knee disability, tension headaches, and a psychiatric disorder (to include depression), finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tension headaches, left knee disability, and right knee disability were denied as the evidence did not show that her conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to or as a consequence of acute myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, is related to his service-connected conditions. The Board found the opinion provided by the VA provider to be probative in determining that the Veteran’s service-connected physical and mental disabilities contributed to the development of coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to outstanding development needs.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and leg disorders due to insufficient medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified orthopedic physician.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is rated at 20% from March 14, 2014 to August 16, 2019. The appeal is granted for this rating.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been granted. The Board has also remanded several other issues including increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to lack of functional loss or additional limitation.,A separate 10 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability based on painful motion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot condition, left knee disability, migraines, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to the need for further development. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to assess his current diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee impairment preexisted service and was aggravated by active duty. The cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder are remanded for further development as veteran status is not established for the periods of ACDUTRA mentioned.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee arthritis and meniscal tear, status post meniscectomy, is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. As such, the appeal for service connection for this condition is granted.