Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 20% since March 8, 2020. He also received a separate 10% rating for objective painful motion associated with the condition. The Board granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status (SMC) due to insufficient evidence linking the current right knee condition to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability prior to December 13, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability from December 13, 2019 was also denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete examination and other issues.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left knee disability, including whether it is related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted. The claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella as the VA examinations did not comply with previous remand instructions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, right hand, back, right knee, left knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence.,Service connection will be further evaluated based on additional evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, including limitation of flexion and extension, instability, and cartilage impairment, is rated at a maximum of 60 percent. The psychiatric disability has not been found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee disability, and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left knee fracture residuals is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The other issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a right knee condition, to include as secondary to her service-connected left knee condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The RO must obtain new or addendum VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and hypertension was granted. The RO denied the reopened claim for hearing loss, asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, OSA, and hypertension on the merits.,The Board remanded the reopened issue of service connection for a bilateral knee condition.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, residuals from traumatic brain injury, nerve condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The decisions were based on a lack of new and material evidence to support reopening these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, heart condition, hypertension, and PTSD are all remanded.