Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration. The issues include a request for higher ratings for various knee conditions, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities due to issues with functional loss during flare-ups and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is determined to be secondary to her service-connected endometriosis with subsequent vaginal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and perineorrhaphy, also including osteopenia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee condition and bilateral foot condition due to conflicting medical opinions. An addendum opinion is needed from the examiner who conducted the October 2019 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, vision loss, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbar spine disability. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as secondary to his cervical spine disability. The Veteran's right hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are all granted with specific ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and limitation of motion, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand is necessary because the previous VA examinations did not comply with the requirements set forth in the December 2017 Board decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of November 27, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee condition, including osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right hip sprain, left knee strain, and right knee strain. The Board found that these conditions are at least as likely as not due to parachute jumps in service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder, but the Board finds that the criteria are not met.,The Veteran's claim for right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment to earning capacity due to his bilateral knee condition.,The Veteran's claim for left knee disability is also denied for similar reasons.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current knee conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left knee limitation of flexion and instability were denied. The Veteran was assigned a 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5260. For instability, he received a 30 percent rating effective October 4, 2010.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy. The VA is instructed to obtain Social Security Administration records and provide an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s hypertension and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot and knee disabilities, including low back disability. The legible copies of the Veteran's service treatment records from his period of active duty need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's right knee, migraine headaches, and left ankle disabilities are all being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability and denied increased ratings for right knee instability, left knee disability, and left knee instability.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10% under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating from the date of claim, and his DJD of the thoracic spine is granted at a 20 percent rating from October 29, 2015. The right knee disability and left knee disability are both denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective from August 1, 2012. The TDIU is granted subject to the statutes and regulations governing the payment of compensation.