Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for instability of the right knee. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for limitation of motion of the right knee was denied, but a TDIU for the period beginning January 1, 2007, was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to clarify the Veteran's employment status and assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA and/or private treatment records, scheduling a VA medical examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition, and readjudicating the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is more likely due to natural progression of wear and tear with age.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received, but the claims for right ankle disabilities are still pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss, left hearing loss, and right knee disability due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the claimant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for headaches, right knee disability, and left knee DJD due to additional evidence being added to his case file.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and failure to differentiate between slight, moderate, or severe instability. The Veteran's left knee disability is being evaluated again for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left knee disability is granted due to the evidence being at least in equipoise on whether he injured his knee during service and if symptoms have been continuous since separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence or development of existing evidence. The issues include left knee disability, low back disability, left hip disability, cervical spine disability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for chondromalacia patellofemoral joints, left and right knees, have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,Both knees are rated based on noncompensable limitation of motion due to degenerative arthritis.

The Board dismissed all issues of appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted with separate 10 percent ratings under Codes 5260, 5257, and 5259. The TDIU claim is denied. The propriety of the reduction in the rating for the right hip disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a left ankle injury, finding that it was aggravated by his service-connected right foot disability. However, the Board denied service connection for the right knee disability as there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of etiological opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities and/or prescribed medications.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, initial ratings for left and right knee disabilities, and TDIU due to incomplete examination reports and lack of addressing certain aspects in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for a respiratory disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy.