Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a medical opinion on its etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, spine, and shoulder disorders, as well as a respiratory disorder. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee instability rating was reduced from 10% to 0%, effective December 1, 2015. The case is remanded for further review.

Service connection granted for tinnitus. Service connection denied for right ear hearing loss, insomnia, left knee disability, right knee disability, acne, and neck disability.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to the claimed disabilities except for a history of folliculitis (acne) during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's left ankle disability was not addressed as it is a separate issue.,The Board found no current disability of the back, knees, or left ankle that could be linked to active duty service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of their residuals, with no higher ratings granted due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports for both left and right knee disabilities. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Veteran's knee and shoulder disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of motion, with a separate 10% rating for status post meniscectomy. The left shoulder labial tear disability was granted a 20% rating prior to January 16, 2020 and a 30% rating since that date.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10%. A separate 10% rating for status post meniscectomy has been granted. The left shoulder labial tear disability was previously rated at 20%, but the claimant now receives a 30% rating since January 16, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, gastrointestinal disability (to include as due to exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune), bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder rotator cuff tear and other orthopedic conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 14, 2019.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including hypertension, IBS, left knee disability, slurred speech, and right and left foot disabilities. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, left hand disability, and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions and a TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee ligament insufficiencies are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for right knee instability and patellofemoral pain syndrome and anterior cruciate ligament strain was denied. The Board found that the current 20 percent rating for right knee instability is appropriate, as it reflects moderate joint instability. For patellofemoral pain syndrome, the Board determined a 10 percent rating is the highest possible under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claims for left hand/thumb disability, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, chondromalacia patella of the right knee, and left foot disability have been reopened. The claims for left hand/thumb disability and left foot disability are granted, while the claim for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability has led to a secondary service connection for left foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wound residuals, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, left knee patellar tendonitis, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment as of October 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from June 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and sleep apnea, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues with these claims.