Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted, but the issue of SMC based on aid and attendance is still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disability to include asbestosis and a rating higher than 30 percent for degenerative arthritis with Pellegrini-Steida disease of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee arthritis and service connection for a right knee disability due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claim for a right knee disability as it was not adequately evaluated in the previous examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating and denied the claim for enhanced DIC benefits due to lack of legal merit.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right knee condition were granted service connection.,A 70 percent rating was assigned for the Veteran’s unspecified trauma related disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to military service, including playing basketball and football during service.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative joint disease are currently rated at 10% each, with no higher ratings granted. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has returned the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities to the AOJ for further development due to issues with credibility of the Veteran's self-reported history and lack of physical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee scar tissue and an initial rating of 70% for PTSD, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70%, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the April 2013 rating decision. The Veteran's hypertension claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied. Service connection for right and left knee disorders is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability was denied in 2005. The Board has reopened the claim due to new and material evidence, but it is still remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied in 2007. The case has been remanded multiple times due to inadequate examinations and the need for retrospective opinions. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for his right knee disability from November 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, as these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran failed to attend a scheduled VA examination in October 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea due to inadequate examination opinions and failure to address all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for left eye cataracts, liver disease, pityriasis rosacea, left knee osteoarthritis, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension has been restored or reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and reasoning regarding service connection for a left knee condition. The Veteran's current left knee conditions are being requested to be evaluated again, with consideration of both primary and secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition and has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for tinnitus to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of stroke, left knee patella femoral syndrome, and right knee patella femoral syndrome due to inappropriately rated service connection. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the other claims.