Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The new opinions must be provided with adequate rationale, addressing specific evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder was granted. The claims for tinea pedis, respiratory disability (including chronic bronchitis, COPD, and other respiratory pathology related to pulmonary eosinophilic granulomatosis and obstructive sleep apnea), foot disability other than tinea pedis, upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee disability are still pending and need further examination.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear with symptomatic episodes are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has found no basis for a higher rating or additional separate ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, diabetes mellitus, type II, and right shoulder disability have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for left knee disorder and bilateral plantar fasciitis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension.,Service connection for a right knee disability secondary to service-connected back and left knee disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the presence of a current right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various initial disability rating claims related to his left knee condition, including instability and limitation of extension. The ratings were found not to warrant higher evaluations based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, OSA, and skin cancer are service-connected. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause or aggravation of these conditions by a service-connected condition, additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral hammertoes, and bilateral hip disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings on PTSD with mood disorder, right knee strain with arthritis, and right ear hearing loss is remanded due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied as not related to service. The Board found that the Veteran’s left knee and right knee disorders, including their secondary effects on his big toe conditions, were also not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a ratable hearing loss disability, and his right knee disability was rated as 10 percent disabling overall.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the submission of new VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to inadequate VA opinions addressing whether these conditions are aggravated by a service-connected condition (hallux valgus).

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to August 18, 2015 and from that date. His degenerative arthritis of the right knee is rated at 10 percent. Right knee instability was not found to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability, prior to December 8, 2014 and from July 1, 2016, is not productive of ankylosis with flexion between 10 and 20 degrees, extension limited to 30 degrees or higher, or impairment of the tibia and fibula with malunion and marked knee or ankle disability. Therefore, a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee status post total knee arthroplasty is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to August 23, 2018 is not productive of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, or the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees, or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with chronic low back syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination, requiring a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back disabilities due to obesity, as they raise issues regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellar tendonitis are rated at 10% each, but the Board denied any higher ratings as there was no evidence of ankylosis or impairment of the tibia/fibula. The knees were found to have normal flexion and extension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed in-service events or exposures.