Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition. The case is being returned to the VA for further review, including obtaining a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 20 percent for his service-connected right ankle disability.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, including as due to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and disabilities have been denied. The Board has not assigned a maximum disability rating, which remains before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right inguinal hernia, neck disability, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to incomplete examination and lack of consideration of lay statements.

The Veteran's right patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 20 percent, and his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2011. The Board has remanded the claims for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and bilateral Achilles tendonitis.

The Veteran's tension headaches were not rated higher than noncompensable prior to January 2, 2014. From January 2, 2014, to July 19, 2017, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent evaluation for her tension headaches. Since then, she has been granted a 50 percent evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral rib disorder and left knee disorder are remanded as there is insufficient evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective September 19, 2018. Service connection for PFPS of the right knee and left knee, as well as lumbosacral strain, has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, and addressing any issues related to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip, right hip, and left knee, as well as herniated and bulging discs of the back due to conflicting opinions and lack of medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees due to insufficient development, including a need for additional medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain a VA examination and opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back, right hip, and right knee disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus is presumed to have existed prior to service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it was aggravated by service or related to his active duty. For any diagnosed left and right knee disabilities, the examiner must also assess whether they are proximately due to or aggravated by the bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a higher initial disability rating for his left knee condition. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran should be granted TDIU prior to February 5, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis on a presumptive basis due to his in-service diagnosis of early degenerative arthritis.

The Board dismissed all claims for earlier effective dates prior to November 23, 1999 as the Veteran died during the appeal process.,No service connection was granted or denied in this decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective dates for service connection of right and left knee osteoarthritis as the Veteran withdrew these issues. The initial disability ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement disability is rated at a 60 percent since April 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability preexisted service and was aggravated by service, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for Meniere’s disease, sinusitis, right knee disability, and right hearing loss due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The other issues remain denied.