Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hallux valgus and left knee strain with osteoarthritis were rated at 10 percent prior to March 20, 2011. The Board found that the current ratings are appropriate given the evidence of record. However, the claim for a higher rating is remanded due to the lack of recent examination assessing the severity of left knee strain with osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a low back condition as secondary to a bilateral knee condition, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing Osgood-Schlatter’s disease in both knees, and that any current osteoarthritis is not related to service. The Board also found that the Veteran's low back condition is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's low back disability. The issues of evaluating left knee and right knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II with retinopathy does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent due to the absence of episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical opinion in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of his knee disabilities and neck disability have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of available National Guard service records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disorder should be remanded for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the relationship between his current left knee disorders and service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee DJD as the evidence did not establish a link to military service. The claim of secondary service connection was also denied due to lack of a causal relationship between the right leg disability and the knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the nature and etiology of any additional residual disability caused by several left knee surgeries, including pain, swelling, infection, and permanent numbness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right hand/wrist condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to service, but VA examiners have found no direct link.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee osteoarthritis have been rated at 10 percent each since April 6, 2012. The Board has granted separate ratings of 10 percent for instability in the knees, effective from April 6, 2012. For internal hemorrhoids, a noncompensable rating remains valid.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension, and a separate rating of 20 percent for moderate instability has been granted. Both his left and right ankle disabilities are now rated at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA examination reports. The claims for TDIU and psychiatric disorder are dismissed as withdrawn.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.,Service connection for the low back condition and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia) is remanded due to incomplete information regarding service connection criteria.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and insomnia, may be related to Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due or caused by his service-connected right knee and lower back disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating claim for left knee chondromalacia status post arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy with scar is remanded due to lack of range-of-motion measurements. The service connection claim for bilateral foot disorder is also remanded as the VA examiner’s opinion was inadequate.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is caused or aggravated by their service-connected left hip and back disabilities. The Veteran contends that their current right knee disability was caused by a landmine incident during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was also denied for atrophy, left kidney with cyst, as it is considered a congenital defect that pre-existed service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability was denied. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability is granted, but the TDIU claim is denied.