Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has denied reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for low back disability, stomach disability, skin rash, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities other than MDD with PTSD, and SMC based on housebound status since April 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence and need for new examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to new and material evidence, but remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities precluding substantially gainful employment.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a current disability in accordance with VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities as they were not incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The left knee disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and gastrointestinal disorder are denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee condition and its relation to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis due to a lack of in-service medical records and the need to consider his theory that jet fuel exposure caused delayed-onset allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as his symptoms are related to service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and sinus disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of service connection for back injury, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to a need for additional development. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to address whether the Veteran's claimed disabilities preexisted service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's hip, knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not service connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after service. The Veteran's bowel and bladder incontinence is also not service connected due to lack of a nexus between the condition and her military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension and has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of her right knee condition and cervical spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 14, 2011, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding additional functional loss or limitation of motion during periods of flare-up and after repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disabilities prior to April 10, 2017 are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and evaluation.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine condition, right knee condition, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to service-connected cervical spine condition.,Service connection is denied for left hip strain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right ankle disability, as he had moderate limitation of motion and no marked limitation. His knee disabilities also did not meet criteria for higher ratings.