Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and low back disorders, as well as whether they are related to his service-connected right knee disability. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition. The decision is pending on remand for further examination and opinion regarding his bilateral hip conditions.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left knee DJD post-operative meniscectomy and ACL repair, as well as instability, are denied. A separate rating of 10 percent is granted for symptomatic removal of cartilage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint disabilities and headaches, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and increased ratings for his right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted. For the period on appeal prior to September 16, 2016, his bilateral pes planus was granted a 30% rating; from September 16, 2016 to January 28, 2018, he received a separate 30% rating. Beginning January 29, 2018, the Veteran's claim for increased ratings remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Similarly, the Board found that the Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Specifically, the right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome claim is being returned to the RO for additional consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including a need for VA medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of his disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and there is evidence of an in-service injury, as well as a causal relationship between the current disability and the in-service disease or injury. The Veteran's claim for right knee condition and headaches are remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, heart disability, prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence. The reasons are that the Veteran failed to report to scheduled VA examinations for these disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for additional development, including obtaining her employment history and determining if she qualifies for a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis due to the combined effects of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for scars or instability, but granted an effective date of January 18, 2013, for a separate 20 percent rating for scars.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 29, 2009. Therefore, a TDIU is granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been granted increased ratings for limitation of extension, flexion, and recurrent instability / subluxation / dislocation. The current effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, lumbar spine strain, leg length discrepancy, neck disorder, and shoulder disorders due to insufficient evidence or further development is needed.

Your claims for service connection have been dismissed as you opted to proceed with the modernized review system.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's knee disabilities, as the current examination reports do not include all necessary findings for joint testing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and hand tremors due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The case is remanded for further development.