Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the veteran's request for additional attorney fees as a result of past-due benefits awarded in January 2019, which increased his rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome to 10 percent.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left knee, status post torn lateral meniscus repair, is restored to a 40 percent rating. The appeal for a higher rating prior to April 17, 2012, and greater than 40 percent thereafter remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain and gastrointestinal symptoms due to environmental exposure in the Gulf War. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for these conditions as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or that they are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders and sleep disorder were not incurred or aggravated during service, are not otherwise related to his service, and do not have a direct link to his service-connected disabilities. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral syndrome due to inadequate examination findings, requiring additional development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and back disorder due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in at least relative equipoise as to whether the Appellant's current left knee disorder, including degenerative joint disease of the left knee and a total arthroplasty, is due to an injury sustained during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, and the other claims were remanded or denied. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders secondary to PTSD due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for residuals of left clavicle fracture and bilateral knee conditions was denied. The VA determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the VA found no evidence of dislocation or nonunion of the clavicle during the period on appeal, and limited range of motion in both knees does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee scars, left and right total knee replacements, as well as SMC based on housebound status from January 1, 2016. The claims are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The initial compensable rating claim for right knee scars has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a back disability due to lack of new and material evidence, and because there was no causal relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining new VA examination or addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and right foot disabilities, as well as their relationship to his service-connected fibula fracture and ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from November 20, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to the Veteran's death.