Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions worsened during service.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement is rated at 60 percent from June 1, 2018 to present. The Board found that the evidence established severe painful motion or weakness resulting in a 60% rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records after the initial decision. The case will be reviewed by the AOJ and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) will be issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, blurred vision, and hernia conditions. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has been denied due to his failure to provide the necessary information and VA forms.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, right knee disorder, headache disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is denied, and the claims for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are both denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, bilateral elbow conditions, and a left knee condition. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that these conditions were caused by active service.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran’s current disabilities to his military service.

The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety and depression is dismissed. Service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder are denied. Service connection for dermatophytosis of the left foot and right foot is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left and right knee DJD, finding that the current 10% ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the kidney disability claim remains denied. The right knee and stroke disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chloracne, hyperhidrosis, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, nasal disability (chronic nose bleeds), and eye disability (blurred vision). The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and right knee condition have been granted.,However, the decision is mixed as both conditions were found to be preexisting and not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, and left knee arthritis were not found to be service-connected.,His seizure disorder was rated at 10 percent but the Board did not find it disabling enough for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings, effective dates, and service connection were denied. The decision also found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, SMC based on need for aid and attendance, and SMC based on housebound status. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to the potential impact on the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's CAD and right knee replacement are currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board denied any increase in ratings for these conditions prior to January 4, 2016, and from September 1, 2016, to November 17, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right hip and right knee disabilities.,The Board finds that further development, including a new VA examination by an examiner other than the one who conducted the December 2019 examination, is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right hip and right knee conditions.