Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulosis, epididymitis, a hernia, and a left knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has ordered additional development for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion from the April 2009 VA examiner. The claims are now remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, fatigue, and eczema as they are not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral shoulder, bilateral wrist and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing all raised theories of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to its inextricability with other pending claims, specifically increased ratings for left knee residuals. The TDIU issue will be reconsidered after all related claims have been fully developed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim of reinstating a 10 percent disability rating for right knee instability as moot because the July 2019 rating decision that reinstated the 10 percent evaluation constituted a full grant of benefits.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, including his removed semilunar cartilage and DJD, is currently rated at 20% since April 30, 2019. This rating reflects limitation of flexion to a degree less than 15 degrees.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders and a digestive disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error, including the need for VA to obtain SSA records and private treatment records from September 2010 through June 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, left second toe, and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip strain, but denied service connection for tinnitus, left knee PFPS, and left cheek scar. The decision is remanded for further action on the claim of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that new evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for bilateral varicose veins, right knee disability, left-hand broken ring finger disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia). The claims are being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination or medical opinion.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is granted service connection. The remaining issues of COPD, diabetes, hypertension, left hip condition, right hip condition, and right knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg circulatory disorder and right leg pain/strain, finding that the evidence did not support these claims. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to his nonservice-connected peripheral vascular disease with osteomyelitis status post above knee amputation.,Service connection was also denied for depression and anxiety, as there is no credible medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the claims for service connection, as there are deficiencies in the current medical opinions and further examination may be necessary.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error in the May 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome is granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision.,The Veteran's left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with limitation of motion during extension is granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that there is new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran, warranting readjudication of her claims for service connection for migraine headaches and bilateral knee pain. The claims are now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and granted service connection for Gulf War illness, manifested by non-allergic, irritant rhinitis. The Veteran's right knee condition is not considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by military service. For the Gulf War illness claim, the evidence supports that the Veteran has a chronic multi-symptom illness with an unidentified etiology, consistent with Gulf War Syndrome.