Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in previous VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability should be rated at a higher level of severity prior to March 7, 2011, and at 20 percent thereafter. The claim is being remanded for further review based on additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and service connection for OSA, chronic left knee disorder, and chronic right knee disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD or service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent effective from December 28, 2015. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding no current indication of a causal association between the Veteran's right knee condition and his military service.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 25, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of other potentially applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded several claims due to non-compliance with previous directives and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further clarification on service connection for a chronic right knee, including whether it is related to service-connected left knee condition or obesity. The examiner will provide opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employment, specifically as a production worker in an automotive vehicle engine plant from February 2006 to February 2017.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20% effective November 18, 2019. The claim for GERD service connection is denied. The claims for lumbar spine and left knee DJD are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various disabilities as they are all related to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability prior to December 5, 2016, and for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 5, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in August 2012 and December 2016. The Veteran is required to be afforded a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities due to a lack of complete service treatment records, including those from his National Guard service. The Veteran reported jumping out of planes during this period.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a rating of 30 percent effective July 15, 2014. The Veteran's left knee degenerative changes are granted a rating of 30 percent effective July 15, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical examination records, including lack of information regarding functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use over time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, lumbar spine, and bilateral shin splint disorders due to incomplete medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.