Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran is as likely as not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected knee disabilities, and the Board finds that an extraschedular TDIU is warranted.

The appeal seeking service connection for a right knee condition is dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for memory loss, loss of concentration, and night terrors is dismissed.,The appeals seeking to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, a kidney condition, hair loss condition, and urinary condition are all dismissed.,The appeal seeking an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,The appeal seeking an increased rating for residuals of traumatic synovitis of the left knee (a left knee disability) is dismissed.,The appeal seeking an increased rating for a left ear hearing loss disability for the period prior to June 6, 2017 is dismissed.,The appeal seeking an increased rating for a bilateral hearing loss disability beginning June 6, 2017, is dismissed.,The appeal seeking an increased rating for gastritis is dismissed.,The appeals seeking earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss disability, right ear hearing loss disability, low back disability, and gastritis are all dismissed.,The appeal seeking a TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability) is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee condition, including his total knee replacement, is related to his in-service left knee injuries and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and denied earlier effective dates for bilateral knee strain and right ankle condition. The Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric condition, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellar tendinopathy (right knee disability), and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellar tendinopathy (left knee disability) due to the Veteran's active duty service. The decision is based on positive medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and right knee condition is remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining inpatient treatment records from his active duty periods and providing an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right knee meniscal tear with instability, and right knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a right knee condition, as well as his TDIU claim, were all denied by the Board. The denial is based on insufficient evidence to establish service connection or entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination. The Veteran's tension headaches are not considered to be prostrating, thus denying a compensable rating. Service connection is remanded for right knee, right shoulder, right ankle, and left wrist disabilities. An initial compensable rating for nasal polyps is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral flat feet, right and left ankle disabilities, and a left knee disability due to service connection. The issues are related to whether these conditions were aggravated by service or if they pre-existed service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for central centrigual scarring alopecia and service connection for a left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is granted a 40% rating, and his right knee conditions are denied increased ratings. Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae (skin disability) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability as the evidence did not show a current disability or link to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) due to incomplete VA examinations.

Your right knee condition, including torn meniscus status post repair with osteoarthritis, was granted service connection in a June 28, 2019 rating decision. However, your appeal for this issue is dismissed as moot because the claim has already been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, and bilateral knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to missing records and incomplete information. The Veteran is asked to provide details about his treatment during service, including any epidural injections and sleep studies.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscal tear was granted with an effective date of March 15, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran had previously submitted a claim in September 2008 and provided relevant service records to reconsider the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left foot disabilities, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition in either knee. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between current disabilities and military service.