Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee disability have been granted, but the right knee disability remains at a 20% rating. The Board has found that another VA examination is needed for the right knee issue due to lack of specific findings in passive motion and non-weight-bearing positions.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disorders were denied service connection as they are not shown to be related to his military service.,Service connection for a skin disorder was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including iliotibial band syndrome, is related to his service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims involving the Veteran's neck and right knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability. The decision on these issues is pending further review.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his scars on the right lower extremity was denied. The highest rating of 30 percent has been assigned, which is the maximum allowed under DC 7804.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left hip disorders, as well as right and left knee disorders, due to a duty to assist error. The VA is required to provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hip and knee conditions are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability or if they were caused by in-service activities such as playing basketball.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee pain resulting in functional loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is caused by active service.

The Board has denied the readjudication of the claim for service connection for a right knee disability as there is no new and relevant evidence to support the claim.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's service records show that he was exposed to noise during service and has reported hearing loss since then.,The claim for service connection for IHD based on herbicide exposure is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left hip condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are rated as noncompensable or 10 percent disabling, respectively. A separate noncompensable rating was granted for bilateral leg chronic exertional compartment syndrome.

The Veteran's right knee instability associated with his service-connected right knee PFPS is granted effective July 1, 2015, the day following his separation from active service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) was denied, and the request for an effective date prior to December 8, 2010 for service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he did not file a timely VA Form 10182 within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relation to service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is remanded as the VA examiner did not provide adequate rationale for their opinion.,The Veteran's kidney disability, related to hepatitis C, is remanded due to an inaccurate factual premise in the previous opinion.,The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded because the VA examiner did not address whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.,The effective date for a 10 percent evaluation of the Veteran's right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination results.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of May 11, 1970 for service connection for left knee disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding higher ratings for right knee post traumatic osteoarthritis and instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA and private medical records and schedule an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and lumbosacral strain, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).