Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a right knee disorder, finding no direct or secondary evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's lung cancer residuals, type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's right index finger amputation and below the right knee amputation are also granted as secondary to his type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected back and hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is needed. The issues include neck, left knee, right shoulder, right knee, bilateral foot disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee injury with osteoarthritis does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee degenerative joint disease and limitation of extension was partially granted. He is now rated at 20 percent for the period beginning July 14, 2015, for his degenerative joint disease, with a separate noncompensable rating for his limitation of extension.

Your claims for service connection for headaches, left knee condition, and right knee condition have been fully granted in a June 2020 rating decision. As these issues are no longer pending, your appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current disorders were not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during active duty.,Service connection was also not granted for ichthyosis.

The Veteran's right knee non-traumatic exertional compartment syndrome is rated at 10 percent effective January 27, 2013. A separate rating of 20 percent for symptomatic dislocated semilunar cartilage was granted from March 9, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and bilateral leg disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms in service or post-service continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiners found no link between the current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected left knee disability is denied. A separate 10 percent rating, but not higher, is granted prior to November 16, 2019, and a separate 20 percent rating, but no higher, is granted from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error, and he needs an examination to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has granted attorney fees based on the grant of a total disability rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability (TDIU) in November 2018, which was part of the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder, left knee disability, and bilateral hallux valgus.

The Veteran's request for self-employment assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) was granted. The decision found that the Veteran has a serious employment handicap due to his service-connected disabilities, which necessitated selection of self-employment as the only reasonably feasible vocational goal.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent from July 10, 2011 to September 3, 2013.,From September 3, 2013, the Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for back, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions as there is no evidence linking these disabilities to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, insomnia, a neck disability, erectile dysfunction, right and left knee disabilities, and foot disabilities. The issues are related to in-service symptoms and injuries.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach condition and right knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior VA examinations. The Board requires new, adequate medical opinions from VA physicians.