Knee decisions — 2020

The case is being remanded due to the Court's decision, which found that the Board’s reliance on a VHA opinion was inadequate and requested a new medical opinion. The Veteran needs to be examined by an orthopedist to determine if his left knee condition had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for limitation of flexion and 20 percent for instability. The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and swelling.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a previous VA examination not complying with the remand directive. The Veteran's left knee condition needs to be re-evaluated by another VA examiner under the presumption that he did not have any pre-existing left knee disorder at the time of entry into service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee injury and its relation to service. The VA will need to verify the nature of the Veteran’s service status on December 5, 2009, obtain additional private treatment records, and provide an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected right peroneal palsy with foot drop did not contribute to his death, which was caused by a motorcycle accident.,The Veteran’s total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) lasted for approximately 5 years before he died.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his current employment, despite his reported occupational impairments.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The rating for GERD remains at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left knee disability and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected conditions due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination. The Veteran's attorney provided additional information regarding obesity, which may affect the outcome of the claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's right knee disabilities and determine if there is any additional range of motion loss during flare-ups. The reduction in disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for right knee instability and osteoarthritis remains under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for low back disorder and right knee disorder due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service.,Both the left ankle and left knee disabilities were found to be not related to service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are necessary to determine if the Veteran now has any diagnosable leg or knee disabilities and their relationship to his complaints during service, as well as whether a current back disability is caused by his bilateral leg disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a left hip disability, finding that the current diagnoses were not related to the in-service conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in his service treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disorders due to inadequate VA examinations and other procedural issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including chest pain, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disorder, acne, facial scars, flatfoot, hypertension, memory loss, bipolar disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder), and migraines. The remand requires obtaining relevant VA treatment records, conducting additional examinations to determine the etiology of diagnosed conditions, and scheduling a new examination for migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar strain with arthritis and left knee strain due to lack of recent VA examinations, and requests additional private medical records.