Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disorders, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and DJD of multiple joints, as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records from private physicians R. M. and R. R.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee DJD and symptomatic semilunar cartilage have been rated, but his flexion and extension limitations do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. A separate 10% rating has been granted for symptomatic semilunar cartilage as of December 7, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the left knee, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of flexion due to possible worsening of symptoms and need for further examination.

The Board has upheld the severance of service connection for LLE radiculopathy and denied a higher initial disability rating. The claims for left foot, hip, ankle, and knee disabilities are remanded due to lack of complete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disorders, including posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle, left ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. As such, the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of etiological relationship between the current right knee, left hallux valgus, or left knee conditions and active service.

The Board has granted the appeals to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD and a left knee disability, but remanded both issues due to further development needed.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and lower back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for right and left elbow disorders, granted a 20% rating for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle from November 19, 2019, but denied an increased rating for degenerative arthritis and joint disease of the left knee status post arthroscopy.

The Veteran's service-connected back and psychiatric disabilities are found to be causally related to his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).,The Veteran is determined to be unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition. The claim will be returned for a new examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee arthritis with chondromalacia. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and dry eye syndrome are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his right knee condition and instability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA is required to provide an adequate examination that includes joint stability testing, estimates of functional loss during flare-ups or repeated use, and a clear explanation if such information cannot be obtained.

The Veteran's left knee disability, previously rated as osteoarthritis status post-meniscus tear repair of the left knee, is now rated at 40 percent effective January 27, 2015 for limited extension and a separate 10 percent rating for limited flexion.

The Veteran's left knee disability and neck disability are being remanded for further evaluation, while the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and the need for new nexus opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his other conditions remain under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of bilateral hips, and arthritis of bilateral knees. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability claims are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence after a supplemental statement of the case was issued. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and heat stroke residuals due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.