Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent, which covers both the limitation of extension and flexion. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as his extension has not been shown to be limited to 30 degrees or more.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative arthritis and meniscal condition, was rated at 10% prior to February 6, 2014. A 60% rating is granted for his status post total right knee replacement from April 1, 2015 to September 23, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's disabilities are being requested to be evaluated again with a focus on whether they are related to service or secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to missing service treatment records and lack of nexus opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee and back disorders, as well as his hypertension, are inextricably intertwined with his service connection claims. Therefore, these issues must be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete VA examination reports and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran is also being considered for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, scar of the right knee, and bilateral tinnitus due to discrepancies in the record.,Service connection was denied for a scar of the right knee as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right knee, and back disabilities, as well as his service connection claims for bilateral hip disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to consider new evidence from VA examinations in April 2018 and February 2020, and obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability, heart disorder, sleep apnea, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The Veteran's radiculopathy with atrophy, right lower extremity, was rated 10 percent; the rating for radiculopathy, left lower extremity, was also 10 percent.,The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and found that the Veteran’s conditions were less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected adjustment disorder or bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring an updated VA examination of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and consider the Veteran's claims again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The decision is final.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in permanent loss of use of his left foot, and therefore grants eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile with adaptive equipment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the appellant's service-connected right knee disability, including limitations in motion and flare-ups. A new VA examination is needed to address these issues.

The Board has granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee limitation of extension due to degenerative joint disease prior to November 5, 2012 was denied as the evidence did not show that his knee had limited extension to 15 degrees or greater.

The Veteran's right knee scar and right knee disability are remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded due to an inadequate August 2016 examination report. A new examination is needed to assess the extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.,The left knee disability, depression, and sleep disorder are all remanded for etiology opinions regarding their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depression) and diabetes mellitus are also remanded. The examiner must determine whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service in Southwest Asia, as well as any aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected disabilities.,A sleep disorder is remanded for an examination to determine its relationship to service, specifically service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded. The examiner must consider the Veteran's pre-diabetes diagnosis during National Guard service and whether a sleep disorder caused or aggravated his current diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee strain has been rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to limited flexion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral cataracts, glaucoma, left testicle condition, and knee disability. The claim for erectile dysfunction was granted as secondary to a service-connected right testicle condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the Veteran's right knee condition, specifically during periods of flare-ups or after repeated use over time.