Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral foot, ankle, and knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a bilateral eye disability is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the provided medical opinion. Service connection for g6pd (Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency) is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of his lumbar strain with lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylosis, as well as left knee degenerative joint disease with left knee patellofemoral dysfunction, both secondary to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left ankle. The Board found that the date entitlement arose for these disabilities was June 16, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate range of motion testing in a previous VA examination. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical evidence, including range of motion findings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability related to these conditions.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA opinions and lack of adequate private opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly those related to his knee disorders and respiratory condition. The claims are remanded because there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's left and right knee chondromalacia patella and patella alta disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, resulting in a combined rating of 20 percent. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran was granted TDIU from July 28, 2015 to October 26, 2016 based on his bilateral knee disabilities and major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided that a new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee scars, as previous examinations did not provide sufficient information.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including a VA medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a left shoulder condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea. The AOJ is instructed to verify any additional periods of active duty service and obtain all available service treatment records, particularly those from the Veteran’s deployment in Afghanistan. An examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are linked to her in-service service based on continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's left hip disability was not incurred in or due to his time in service, and is denied.,PTSD does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent. The claim is denied.,Back disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 5, 2019 or 20 percent thereafter from that date. The claim is denied.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to March 5, 2019 and granted a rating of 20 percent thereafter. The claim is partially granted.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to March 5, 2019 and granted a rating of 20 percent thereafter. The claim is partially granted.,GERD did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The claim is denied.,Left knee disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for cervical DDD and a higher rating for left knee arthritis. Additional development is required, including examinations to assess functional loss during flares and after repetitive use.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection. For the period since January 9, 2018, a higher rating of 60 percent for his lumbar spine disability is granted and a separate rating of 10 percent for a neurological abnormality affecting the left lower extremity associated with the lumbar spine disability is granted. A TDIU is granted from this date onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine spondylolisthesis is granted at a 40% evaluation, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for higher evaluations of left and right knee DJD are denied. Service connection for a left hip disorder and SMC based on aid and attendance prior to February 27, 2020 are remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder and knee conditions, gout, vertigo, sleep apnea, and shrapnel wounds. The case is being remanded to obtain necessary medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and shell fragment wound scars of the right arm, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered related to his military service.