Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and determine if any periods of active duty for training or inactive duty training were performed by the Veteran from October 2003 to September 2010. The VA will also schedule a right knee examination and provide a neck conditions addendum.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and pharyngitis, as well as right knee and hand/wrist disabilities. The claims are now remanded for further development.

Service connection for a neck disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities is granted.,A rating of 10% for the right knee disability is denied. A rating greater than 20% for the left knee disability prior to December 12, 2019 is also denied. However, since December 12, 2019, a rating of 40% for the left knee disability is granted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hand disability.,The claims were remanded for additional development in March 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed for the remaining claims, and a new VA medical opinion is required to address whether preexisting scoliosis was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee strains due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities, as well as her claim for service connection for complex regional pain syndrome due to new evidence added since the last decision.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disorder and granted TDIU, but only for the portion of the appeal period where the Veteran was gainfully employed. The claim for hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was initially granted in February 2016, but an earlier effective date remains pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for a skin disability is denied, with the highest possible rating of 60 percent. The Veteran's right knee disability is also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to outstanding VA medical records not having been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability as secondary to the left knee disability is granted. The Board found that there was a reasonable doubt regarding which knee the Veteran injured in service, but ultimately determined that it was his left knee. The Board also found that the current medical evidence supports a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, right ankle, right knee, and right shoulder conditions as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 60 percent rating, effective May 1, 2008.,The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 60 percent rating, effective September 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records. The issues include right knee, lumbar spine, neck, hypertension, and left eye disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, migraines, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The neck condition is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease and no current symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and denied service connection for a back disability. The decision on the back disability is based on the lack of evidence of chronicity in service or within one year of separation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle condition and his increased rating claim for his left knee disability were both denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a left ankle condition, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating based on limitation of motion or other functional impairment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, but has remanded them for further development and examination.