Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings for knee conditions due to new evidence. The lumbar degenerative joint disease claim is pending, while the left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are being reviewed for increased ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral thigh disorder, and nerve and balance disorder as these conditions are not attributable to active duty service.,The evidence does not establish that any of the claimed disorders were incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions. The case is returned for an addendum medical opinion.

Service connection for visual disturbances is granted as secondary to service-connected headaches.,Service connection for memory loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The case is returned to the RO for further action, including obtaining a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2017 VA examination.,The Veteran's right thumb and left thumb conditions are remanded for clarification of diagnosis and determination of service connection.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded for an addendum opinion on its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for feet, multiple callous and surgical procedures was denied. The application to reopen the right knee disability claim was also denied.,The claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) and sciatic nerve associated with degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral spine, status post discectomies were remanded. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee ligamentous strain with periodic pain and swelling was also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and low back conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability, leading to denial of these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left thumb disorder, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.,Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a right ankle disorder or functional impairment of the right ankle at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, including osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative changes due to issues related to obtaining a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional VA clinical records and scheduling an eye examination to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral eye disability. The Veteran's PTSD rating is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's right knee status post osteotomy was reduced from a 30% rating to a 20% rating, effective December 1, 2018. The Board has restored the 30% rating as there is no material improvement in the disability.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, but granted a separate 20 percent rating for his meniscal tear and a 10 percent rating for genu recurvatum from October 15, 2015 to February 20, 2020. The Veteran is not entitled to additional ratings under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for hemorrhoids and right knee disability, as well as other service connection claims, are remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection claims for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, hypertension, and eye condition are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, right-knee disorder, left-knee disorder, lumbar-spine disorder, left-lower-extremity neurological disorder (sciatica), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no in-service injury or event that caused the current conditions.

The Veteran's low back disorder and right hip disorder were denied as not incurred or aggravated by service.,Both knees were evaluated for increased ratings, with the left knee initially rated at 10% prior to September 8, 2014, and at 20% thereafter. The right knee was also rated at 10%. Both knees are currently rated as 10%.