Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, right and left wrist disorders, sleep disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, actinic keratosis, nasal polyps, squamous cell carcinoma, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety disorder), eye disorder (vitreous syneresis, floaters, panniculi), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hernia, pulmonary hypertension, and allergic rhinitis have been denied. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it is related to service. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from June 26, 2019 is granted. The Board also remanded several issues including the rating of genu recurvatum and knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination due to evidence suggesting worsening of symptoms since the last VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim. The remaining issues (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Junick, as well as for a new VA examination of the Veteran's left knee condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee osteochrondroma, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected internal derangement of the left knee. The low back condition issue remains remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine, left knee meniscus tear, and left knee instability disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or showing they are disabling enough to warrant higher ratings. The Veteran was also denied a TDIU as he did not meet the criteria for such an award.

The Veteran's right, left knee and left hip disabilities are granted as service connected.,Service connection for residuals of lyme disease is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right knee infection related to VA surgery in February 2008, finding that there was no evidence of carelessness or negligence on the part of VA. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to potential issues with continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective July 27, 2005, based on the evidence showing his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, bilateral knee, leg cramps, and low back disabilities. The evidence did not show any current disability in these areas or that they were aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a right knee condition, a left knee condition, and a lower back condition. The Veteran did not have current disabilities related to these conditions.,The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent prior to August 9, 2011. A separate 10 percent rating for slight instability of the right knee is granted from that date.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted service connection. The Veteran's residuals of cerebrospinal meningitis claim is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the severity of his symptoms and whether they are related to his meningitis. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been granted, with some changes in the effective dates and ratings assigned.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee disability, and arthritis of the hands and feet. The claims were based on direct evidence without any presumption or secondary relationship.,There was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was noted on his enlistment examination and is denied as service connection. The back, knee, and hip conditions are remanded for further review.