Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, left elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The issue of service connection for neck strain is remanded as the Veteran contends it is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his active service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent combined, with separate ratings for limitation of extension (40%), residuals of an ACL tear (20%), and limitation of flexion (10%). The claim for increased rating prior to October 16, 2019 is remanded. A temporary total evaluation due to convalescence from surgery is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all remanded for further examination and opinion. Additionally, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded. The AOJ must attempt to obtain any outstanding audiologic testing results related to his hearing loss and provide the Veteran with addendum opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his ankle and knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and right knee total knee replacement due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence, including VA and private treatment records, and provide the Veteran with another opportunity to submit such evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to include affording the Veteran a VA examination for his right knee disabilities and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's lay statements and medical records support his claim that he experienced knee symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The right knee disabilities need further examination, and the TDIU claim may require extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inconsistencies in medical records and the Veteran's assertions regarding his January 2020 knee examinations. The cases are also remanded for a determination on SMC based on TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to failure to appear for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee patellar tendonitis and left-side sacroiliitis were denied as the medical evidence did not show limitation of motion or other impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations, specifically regarding the presence of flare-ups. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it overlaps with the period of appeal for increased ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip condition, left knee condition, Vincent's disease, loss of teeth, and low back condition (secondary to right ankle disability).,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and is granted as service connection.,There is no current diagnosis of hypertension, thus denial of service connection for hypertension.,The Veteran has a qualifying chronic gastrointestinal disability manifested by constipation that began during service and is granted as service connection.,Service connection is denied for right rear leg condition, left rear leg condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition due to lack of evidence supporting the onset or relationship to service.,PFB is granted as service connection based on credible lay statements and medical history.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions, as he reported worsening symptoms since the last examination in 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left ankle disability was not rated higher than 10 percent, the right shoulder disorder was not found to be incurred in or related to service, and neither the right knee nor left knee disorders were found to be incurred in or related to service.