Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as a separate rating for left knee instability. The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5261.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee condition, which is claimed to be secondary to his left knee condition, should be remanded for further development and an opinion regarding causation or aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding her eligibility for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only. The matter will be reconsidered based on the results of this new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and asthma, left knee arthritis (flexion), partial ACL tear and status post left knee arthroscopy, and left knee arthritis (instability) due to inadequate development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and has found that he incurred such condition during active military service. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between the current disability and the in-service injury, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee degenerative arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS at L4-S1, paralysis of the left sciatic nerve, and paralysis of the left femoral nerve are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right knee strain was dismissed.,Service connection for a cardiac disability, to include cardiomyopathy, was denied.

The appeal as to the claims of service connection for skin condition and sleep disturbance is dismissed.,As new and material evidence has been received, the appeals as to service connection for right knee strain, left shoulder s/p rotator cuff repair, and right shoulder strain are granted.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied the claim for service connection for left knee disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left knee disorders are granted service connection.,Lyme disease is denied, as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective June 1, 2014. The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is rated at 20 percent from November 2, 2019. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. For sleep apnea and RLS, additional medical records are needed to determine their etiology. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for a separate compensable evaluation for dislocated semiluar cartilage and residual effects of the right knee, symptomatic removal of semiluar cartilage of the right knee, and service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of discussion in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether any current knee disability is consistent with the mechanism of injury described by the Veteran at his hearing. The claim of entitlement to a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities will be deferred until the remanded claims are resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to the issues of rating his left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee sprain, and left knee instability. As a result, these matters are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle disorders, knee disorders, flatfeet, hypertension, headaches, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and a heart disorder are remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure and possible verification of in-service events. The Board also finds that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition as secondary to the left knee condition, and back condition as secondary to the left knee condition. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of GERD, knee disabilities, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded.