Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's heart condition (atrial flutter) is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a right knee condition and bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right hip condition, low back disability, and left knee condition have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection has been granted for status post right knee total arthroplasty based on aggravation during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, and residuals of left medial meniscal injury were granted. The claim for service connection for insomnia was denied as it is considered a symptom of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. Service connection for renal dysfunction was denied due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective date of July 1, 2020. The conditions were found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding their onset during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of complete medical records and incomplete VA examination opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and headaches are found to have begun during active service, warranting service connection.,Bilateral pes planus is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic sinusitis, thoracolumbar spine strain (back condition), left knee patellar tendonitis, and right knee patellar tendonitis due to a lack of STRs from DPRIS.

The Board denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection of a left knee condition, finding no new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Veteran's claims for stomach condition and severe cramps, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), joint pain, muscle pain, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, left eye condition, unspecified depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and tension headaches have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for stomach condition and severe cramps are denied as the evidence does not show a separate and distinct disability from his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's right knee torn anterior cruciate ligament was granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss and chronic tonsillitis were denied, while the claims for left knee disability, right knee disability other than a torn ACL, and skin disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to incomplete personnel records and other issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim since February 2016 is dismissed as moot. A TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to May 24, 2013 is granted due to his service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 5055. Any further increase in rating is not possible as it would exceed the equivalent of an above-the-knee amputation.

The Veteran's service connection for basal cell carcinoma and increased evaluations for various disabilities are granted. Effective dates prior to January 20, 2016 for the grants of these benefits are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back condition, left knee condition, right foot hallux valgus with degenerative arthritis, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, and left hip trochanteric pain syndrome. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded.