Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent effective from June 19, 2019. Service connection for a right hip disability and left hip disability is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back and bilateral knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions and missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's right knee condition prior to August 6, 2015, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent due to limited functional impairment and no evidence of instability or subluxation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 19, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for PFB. The right knee disability is also granted as secondary to left knee patellofemoral syndrome and osteoarthritis. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional evidentiary development due to a lack of a VA examination and insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to her military service, but further evaluation is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to November 2, 2018 did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted service connection as it pre-existed his military service and worsened during active duty. Service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it does not constitute a disability. Right ear hearing loss has been established as related to service.,Bilateral shoulder, elbow, and knee conditions are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their etiology. The Veteran's eye disorder, including residuals of cataract surgery, also requires further examination to assess its relationship with his diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to provide releases for VA to obtain his private treatment records related to his left knee strain and left axillary adenopathy with rhomboid spasm. The claims are remanded pending receipt of these records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in August 2020.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted as service connected, while his iliotibial band syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding his knee and cervical spine conditions. The Veteran is presumed to be seeking the maximum possible evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the right knee and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete development. The Veteran's range of motion must be assessed throughout the time period of his claim.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been remanded for further development. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather the evaluation of his current disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder was granted in a May 2019 rating decision. The claims for inflammation of the joints, chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, elevated white cell blood count (WCB) and chronic blood disorder, lymphedema, postsurgical hypothyroidism, residuals of radiation exposure, sleep apnea, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee pain are all remanded.

The Board has withdrawn all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and disability rating appeals due to his withdrawal requests. The right knee disorder, bilateral foot fungus, and prostate condition (claimed as large prostate) claims have been reopened based on new evidence submitted since their last denial.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a mental health disorder manifesting as ADHD, a left knee disability, and dyshidrotic eczema.