Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a right leg/knee disorder and hearing loss due to inadequate opinions from the June 2019 VA examiner. Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for his back, ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his lumbar spine disability, the relationship between his ankle and knee disabilities and his active duty service, and whether his bilateral pes planus or back disability aggravates his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis were denied. Separate 10% ratings were granted for slight subluxation and instability in both knees.

The Veteran's service-connected post-total arthroplasty (TKA) right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since October 2, 2014. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence. The Board will review this new evidence and consider its impact on his service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for a hip condition and bilateral knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability and TDIU due to inadequate examination findings in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings and lack of a Statement of the Case on his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits information. The Veteran is also reminded to provide any relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and her residuals of a fracture of the left fifth toe rating is remanded for further examination.

The appeal involving the issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of ruptured eardrums is dismissed.,An effective date prior to October 18, 2013, for the award of a separate 10 percent evaluation for left knee injury residuals with limitation of flexion is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation of his right knee disability following an arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy with lateral release in May 2018.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee medial meniscus tear, lateral meniscus tear, and ACL tear is remanded due to the need for further adjudication by the AOJ. The AOJ must also attempt to obtain worker’s compensation records related to his right knee injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and right shoulder strain are related to his service. The decision is based on evidence showing these conditions began during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to a lack of evidence showing actual improvement in his right knee and cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran is also requested to provide information about any medical records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities due to secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus and hammertoes. The AOJ is required to obtain supplemental medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during military service or their relation to his service.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability and denied an increased rating for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and prostate cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.