Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions in previous remands.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to July 1, 2020 and found no basis for a higher rating from July 1, 2020 onwards.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings for his right knee disabilities or service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and right knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee disorder and his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disorder that he claims was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted a separate 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and spine. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically multiple parachute jumps during active duty.

The Veteran's IBS, RUE CTS, lumbar spine disability, right and left ankle disabilities, right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and disability affecting the right hand/fingers are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran's sleep disorder is also granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left total knee replacement and his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and residuals of meniscal tear, has been rated at 10 percent since May 8, 2015. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate as his flexion limitation does not exceed 60 degrees, which corresponds to a non-compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, finding that there is no credible evidence to support the appellant's contention that he injured his knee during INACDUTRA on December 4, 1994. The Board also found that the private and VA opinions based solely on the appellant’s reported history are not credible.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle, right knee, left knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and thyroid conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability as there was no new and relevant evidence submitted to support the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's reports about his symptoms in service are considered, along with any potential arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in reopening the claim for service connection and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his service-connected left knee disability, as well as whether the right knee disability is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability as there was no new and relevant evidence presented to support the claim.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence had been submitted, and the denial for the claim of entitlement to service connection for knee joint osteoarthritis is confirmed. The Veteran's left knee condition was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision being made.