Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for bilateral wrist disabilities, low back condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for mild patellofemoral degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Veteran's current ratings are based on symptomatic residuals from semilunar cartilage removal performed during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and initial disability ratings for right and left knee strains are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is granted, with the exception of the issue related to service connection for low back disability. The restoration of a 10 percent rating for left knee instability since December 30, 2019, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion prior to that date are both granted.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis deformans, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10% for instability and extension, but the Board has found that separate ratings are warranted. The case is remanded to determine if a higher rating can be assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a missed VA examination and requests another examination for an opinion on the etiology of the left knee disability. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, left knee disability (secondary to right foot fracture), and right knee disability (secondary to right foot fracture). The claim for loss of vision was also denied. No breathing disorder was diagnosed in the record.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence linking any current disabilities to military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and hip disabilities have been reopened, but the issues are still being reviewed due to new evidence. The eligibility for certain benefits such as specially adapted housing or financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle remains denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claims for initial compensable evaluations of left knee strain, right knee strain, and right thumb strain. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's right knee and back disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 6, 2010.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but he contends that his symptoms have worsened and he should be entitled to a higher rating. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to assess the current severity of the condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee condition and left knee condition due to incomplete development of records, including VA and non-VA medical records prior to March 2, 2011, and records from Kaiser Permanente. The AOJ is also directed to obtain evidence regarding the Veteran's alleged injury during a typhoon in Guam.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for OSA, hypertension, and headaches have been withdrawn. The claims of higher disability ratings for bilateral knee instability, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded.

The appeal for the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for right foot plantar fasciitis and heel spur, as well as right knee patellofemoral syndrome, is dismissed. The issue of an increased evaluation for right knee patellofemoral syndrome remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 18, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and headaches disabilities. The claims for right knee and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for a back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete VA examination and conflicting medical evidence. The Veteran is not service-connected for right or left ankle disabilities, but a current left knee disability may be present.

The Board has found the Veteran's report of chronic knee problems in service not credible based on her service medical history. The case is remanded for further development and an examination to determine if any disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.