Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's right and left knee conditions due to inadequate examination reports. The issues include rating determinations for flexion, extension, instability, and extraschedular considerations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating exceeding 30 percent for her feet disability is denied. Her claims for initial ratings of 10 percent for her left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral knee disabilities, but has remanded his claim for service connection for a back disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple skin lesions/rashes of the arms and legs due to insect bites has been granted.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no current diagnosis or persistent/recurrent symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The application to reopen the PTSD claim was denied on the merits, and the other claims were also denied.

The Veteran's IBS was granted service connection, and the Board found that his left knee disability, right leg/knee disability, and low back disability were aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis. The other issues remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability, but the low back disability claim is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for a right knee disability, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his ankle and knee rheumatoid arthritis, as well as wrist conditions, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not productive of actual or functional flexion limited to 45 degrees or extension to 15 degrees, and he has been granted a separate 10 percent rating for the symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. The right wrist disability has also been rated at 10 percent. Service connection was established for low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of a current left shoulder/arm disability to support service connection.

The Veteran's back disability is not related to service, and the appeal for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's asthma was not caused or aggravated by service, and the appeal for this condition is denied.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered to have had their onset during active duty service, and he is granted service connection for these conditions.,A right knee/leg disability is not related to service, and the appeal for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was remanded for additional development. The left knee arthritis and bilateral hearing loss cases are still pending, but the melanoma service connection issue is being addressed separately.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been dismissed. Service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as pseudofolliculitis barbae, have not been established.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, shoulder, and anxiety conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues have been reopened.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and right upper extremity, hypertension, and arthritis.,There is no evidence showing that any of these conditions began during active service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's partial right knee arthroplasty polyethylene exchange/revision surgery resulted in a temporary total rating for convalescence from September 14, 2016 to October 31, 2016. From January 8, 2016 to September 14, 2016, and from October 31, 2016 to August 6, 2019, the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was rated at 100 percent due to severe painful motion or weakness. The rating is now downgraded to 30 percent effective October 1, 2020.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.,The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart condition, hypertension, right arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), left arm shaking (Gulf War Syndrome), dizziness, pain/tenderness on jaw, cheek bones and forehead (myalgia), headaches, sinusitis, non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis, PTSD with associated depression and anxiety, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, trochanteric pain syndrome of the left hip, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ankle strain and calcaneal spur, left ankle strain, cervical spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, erectile dysfunction (Gulf War Syndrome), and tonsillitis have all been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as bilateral knee disabilities (claimed as degenerative arthritis), based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial compensable ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, tension headaches, bilateral shoulder and bilateral knee scars due to procedural issues with representation.