Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to inadequate medical opinions provided in prior VA examinations. The issues include lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with its previous remand directives and thus these claims for service connection of left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion and extension, with a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and oligospermia. For the right knee disability, the Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation. For oligospermia, the Board found it first manifested during service.

The Board has determined that the issues of higher staged disability ratings for residuals of a right foot injury, service connection for a sinus disability and an eye infection, service connection for a low back disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, and PTSD, as well as TDIU are inextricably intertwined. Therefore, these matters have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability may be related to service, but needs further examination and evidence to determine if it is directly related or due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's left leg condition, diagnosed as left knee tendonitis/tendinosis, is granted service connection. However, the right hip condition is denied due to lack of a confirmed diagnosis or symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee pain was denied, with the Board finding that his disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her service-connected right knee, right foot, and right wrist disabilities were denied. The medical evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of her symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart murmur, diabetes mellitus type II, right wrist condition, left knee neuropathy, right knee neuropathy, left leg neuropathy, and right leg neuropathy. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a direct relationship to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee meniscal tear, left knee symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, and right and left knee instability due to additional medical examination and opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of all pending appeals by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, right knee disorder, and neck disorder was reopened. Service connection is granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and right knee disorder. The claim for service connection for a neck disorder is denied.

The Board denied service connection for generalized arthralgia, including diagnoses of degenerative arthritis of the hands, knees, and back, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent under DC 5262, impairment of the tibia and fibula. The Board granted a separate rating for recurrent lateral instability (10%), meniscal dysfunction (20%), and limitation of extension (20%). SMC was also granted from October 8, 2018.

The Board has remanded both the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and the service connection claim due to a lack of VA examination, which was directed in previous decisions. The Veteran's right knee disability may be related to his left knee surgery.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, right elbow disability, and OSA due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including shin splints claimed as medial tibial stress syndrome, are currently rated at 10 percent each.,Both knees have been found to exhibit painful motion without additional limitation of function.