Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for instability and strain in the right knee due to inconsistencies with previous examinations and lack of medical explanation for improvement.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 20 percent, effective October 15, 2019. The right knee strain and left knee strain remain rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability, but only supported the current 10 percent rating due to pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a lung condition, including COPD and asthma, is denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left knee condition (claimed as arthritis of the lower extremities) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip and left knee disorders due to inadequate examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations that address his lay statements and provide a reasoned medical explanation connecting the in-service events to current diagnoses.

The Veteran's additional bilateral wrist and right knee disabilities are considered to be at least as likely as not caused by negligence or other deviation from the standard of care during VA treatment in January 1993, specifically due to a failure to diagnose and treat an underlying infection.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions did not initially manifest during or within a year of discharge from service, and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a non-compensable rating. Service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right knee strain, and left knee strain are all granted.

The Veteran's total right hip arthroplasty, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and lumbar spine disability have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left foot/ankle injuries, as well as right and left knee disabilities, and a low back disability are all granted.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are each rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. The Veteran’s status post right heel sprain is also rated at 10 percent.,The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on additional functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The appeal for service connection for a left knee disability is dismissed. The claims for increased ratings for right knee strain with tendinitis and left ankle periarticular fibrosis are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee sprain with instability is rated at 10 percent, effective August 17, 2012.,A separate noncompensable rating for the scar of the right thigh due to surgical removal of hematoma remains in place.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development and clarification of certain records, as well as a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated based on internal derangement, limitation of extension, meniscal condition, and TKA with chronic residuals. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for higher ratings in some periods.