Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has found that a further examination is required as the January 2020 VA medical examination partially contradicts the medical evidence of record. Specifically, the medical examination did not find any meniscal (semilunar cartilage) conditions or 'any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs or symptoms' related to diagnosed bilateral patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has ordered updated VA examinations of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee status post total knee replacement. The case is being remanded due to inadequate compliance with previous instructions regarding this examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and for a new opinion on the etiology of the right knee disability, including its relationship to service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the current conditions.,There are diagnoses of bilateral meniscal tear and left patellofemoral syndrome, both diagnosed on July 6, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities as secondary to a service-connected bilateral knee disability.,Service connection was granted for recurrent tinnitus disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of credible evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Veteran was granted an effective date of April 22, 2011, for the award of service connection for right and left knee strain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed as he withdrew the claim. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, TMJ disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right foot, and knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations or provide a medical opinion based on file review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including left knee, right knee, back, neck, sleep disability, and hypertension, are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The effective date for TDIU benefits is set at December 1, 2011.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hand disability, bilateral knee disability, gout, hypertension, mesothelioma, heart disability, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition and remanded the issue of service connection for migraines as secondary to service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal regarding his claims for service connection for back condition, bilateral foot condition, and bilateral knee condition. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and irritable bowel syndrome with GERD and hiatal hernia are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to pending issues with left knee disability, and requests an addendum VA opinion for right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected left knee and lumbosacral spine conditions due to inadequate previous evaluations. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities have been granted. The claim for gastrointestinal disorder (abdominal pain) is remanded due to lack of current diagnosis in the records.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is reopened. The Veteran's new evidence shows current diagnoses for both knees, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. However, these issues are being remanded as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether any bilateral knee disabilities are related to service or any in-service injury, disease, or event.

The Veteran's lumbar strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are all rated at the same levels (10% and 20%) since December 10, 2016. The Board has ordered remand for further examinations to determine if there have been any changes in the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for hypertension, tinnitus, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and service connection for various disabilities have been withdrawn.,Issues related to the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded.