Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and left knee disorder due to scheduling issues. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in permanent total disability. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for his TBI.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee chondromalacia is being remanded due to evidence of worsening symptoms. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claim for left knee disability due to new evidence being added to the record, and a VA examination is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's current condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no continuity of symptoms post-service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current left knee conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities and dextroscoliosis of the back with degenerative changes have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support assigning higher disability ratings for any of these conditions.,For chondromalacia in the left knee with degenerative changes, a 10 percent rating was assigned, which is the highest schedular rating available under DCs 5263 and 5014. The Veteran's meniscus tear received a 20 percent rating, also the maximum schedular rating under DC 5258. Left knee laxity was rated at 10 percent prior to December 17, 2018, and zero thereafter. Dextroscoliosis of the back with degenerative changes was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred or caused by his military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no evidence of chronic conditions in the ankles or knees during service or post-service.

The Board has granted service connection for both the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete record, specifically missing service treatment records from Parks Air Force Base. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again with new information.

The Board dismissed the appeals for various disability ratings and TDIU due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's right knee disability was found not to warrant a higher rating for the period prior to October 22, 2019 due to lack of ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, dislocation or removal of the semilunar cartilage, flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, extension limited to 10 degrees or more, malunion or nonunion of the tibia and fibula, genu recurvatum, or functional equivalent thereof.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and/or due to being housebound, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the left knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, left hip, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee and hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability (secondary to left knee), low back disability (secondary to bilateral knee and low back disabilities), and acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to bilateral knee and low back disabilities). The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pneumonia, right knee disability, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathies, and other disabilities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because there is no medical evidence linking the current diagnoses to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.