Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to insufficient medical evidence in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation greater than 30 percent disabling prior to July 16, 2019 for residuals of right knee gunshot wound is denied. The claim for total disability individual unemployability (TDIU) from July 16, 2019 to present is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The new evidence includes VA treatment records that link the Veteran’s current eye disability to hypertension, which is currently on appeal.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran reported symptoms of stress, depression, sleep problems, and irritability during her deployment in Iraq.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and Osgood Schlatter's disease of the bilateral knees due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now pending before the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requests a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's right knee disability claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records review, as well as further development of her Vocational Rehabilitation and medical treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and low back conditions due to insufficient clinical evidence supporting opinions on causation or aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that his current knee disorders are not related to his in-service MCL strain and concluding that they are more likely age-related.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee and shoulder conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his in-service injury. The Board concluded that the Veteran's current right knee disability was more likely related to his obesity and recent acute injury.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient development. The appellant's status as a veteran is unclear, and further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral hip disorder need further development due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have met the threshold schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to April 5, 2019. However, he has been able to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or related to service.,Service records did not document any injuries or diseases involving the Veteran's knees or lower back during his active duty. The Veteran reported he did not seek treatment at the time because he needed to continue working on an aircraft carrier.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for scar, right knee was denied in a February 2012 rating decision. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.,Initial ratings of 40 percent and 30 percent were denied for left breast cancer, status post mastectomy, and prophylactic right mastectomy respectively. The Veteran's scars associated with her bilateral mastectomies are rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to cervical spine, lumbar spine, ulnar nerve compression, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve impairment of the left lower extremity, and right knee disabilities. The appeal for service connection for a right ankle disorder was also withdrawn.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is being remanded for further examination and rating. Other service connection claims are also being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.