Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, specially adapted housing, and special home adaption grant due to the Veteran's right above the knee amputation. The claim will be reconsidered with a medical opinion on whether the amputation is related to diabetes mellitus or other service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, neck disability, and left great toe disability due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner. The Veteran's disabilities are currently under development by the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) did not fully comply with its May 2019 remand directives, and thus the claims for service connection are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and residuals of rhabdomyolysis, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent since June 7, 2016 and 10 percent prior to that date. The lumbar spine disability remains rated at 40 percent.,Service connection for a right hip disability, right shoulder disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the required elements of service connection.,,

The Board has remanded the left knee increased rating claim for a new VA examination. The TDIU and SMC claims remain on appeal.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for Fuchs' corneal dystrophy has been denied.,Service connection for left knee disability is denied, as there is no evidence of chronic left knee arthritis within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,Service connection for seborrheic dermatitis is remanded due to a resurgence of symptoms including hair loss.,Service connection for hair loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability. The right knee disability is rated at 20 percent.,The Board denied increased ratings for both the left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate consideration of his lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's hypertension with chronic renal insufficiency is rated at 60 percent since August 26, 2010. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating and has remanded the issue for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee and back disabilities, as well as a claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities because the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including neck strain, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and right knee disability. The decision is based on insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The appeal regarding an entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability is dismissed.,The appeal regarding whether new and material evidence to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is dismissed.,The appeal regarding an entitlement to service connection for a right-side, upper neuropathy is dismissed.,The appeal regarding an entitlement to service connection for a right-side, lower neuropathy is dismissed.,New and material evidence to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability has not been received.,New and material evidence to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for multiple sclerosis has not been received.,Evidence submitted subsequent to the January 2005 rating decision that denied service connection for tinnitus is not cumulative or redundant of evidence previously of record, relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims, and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied. He is currently rated at 10 percent for the condition, with an additional 10 percent assigned for removal of symptomatic semilunar cartilage.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders due to inadequate medical opinions. The case must be returned for a new VA examination to address all appropriate theories of entitlement, including secondary service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current knee disabilities and his military service, as well as their relation to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee pain, left knee pain, low back pain, and bilateral glaucoma due to incomplete information regarding his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The claims must be remanded for additional development including obtaining a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, right knee disability, and back disability as there was no evidence of in-service onset or nexus to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, right ankle and knee disabilities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and lumbar strain due to the need for additional examinations to assess their current severity.