Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions began during or were related to service.,Service connection was also denied for heart condition.

The Board has granted a separate compensable rating of 20 percent for dislocated left knee semilunar cartilage under Diagnostic Code 5258 from July 2, 2010.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining examinations and medical opinions as requested.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left elbow, left lower leg, and left knee disabilities. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions and determining if TDIU is warranted prior to October 23, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted. The right knee disability claims are denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is denied, and his left knee disability is granted a 60% rating effective from the date of claim. A separate 10% rating for left knee instability was also granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including nicotine dependence, asbestos exposure, and psychiatric disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for mid to low back disability and right knee disability have been denied as there is no credible evidence of a chronic condition in service or since, and the only competent opinion does not support a finding that current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 18, 2016.

The Veteran's claim of a higher initial rating for his right knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of previous VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and gambling disorder, are sufficient to render him unemployable without regard to his age or any nonservice-connected disorders. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for plantar fasciitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of plantar fasciitis related to his military service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability after July 1, 2014. The issue of entitlement to extraschedular TDIU prior to May 16, 2014 is remanded due to lack of compliance with previous Board remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a lumbar spine disability prior to October 10, 2018, are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and lack of diagnostic tests for left knee arthritis. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left knee injury with chondromalacia was denied. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability was granted, and the case is remanded for further development regarding TDIU prior to September 23, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left thumb fracture remains pending. The VA examiner will assess the severity of this disability and determine if additional functional loss due to flare-ups can be quantified in terms of degrees of motion lost during such episodes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including residuals of a right hand injury, bilateral heel disabilities, chronic acquired eye disability (including glaucoma), and degenerative joint disease of the left knee were all denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was granted. The Board also remanded the claims for chin numbness, TMJ, residuals of a dying tooth, and residuals of dental surgery due to insufficient evidence.