Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, and back problems due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, shoulder disability, low back disability, and knee disability due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle conditions, as well as radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar spondylosis with degenerative changes at L5-S1, erectile dysfunction, headaches, cervical spondylosis with degenerative changes of the cervical spine at C4-C5, and right knee degenerative arthritis with medial meniscus tear are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional evidence in several areas, including PTSD severity since January 2010, TDIU prior to February 26, 2013, and SMC based on aid and attendance needs.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities due to a lack of proper notification regarding scheduled examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial and increased disability ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia patella due to inadequate examination in January 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, right knee, left knee conditions and traumatic brain injury due to in-service injuries. The Veteran is required to provide VA medical records and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition is denied. The initial rating for GERD from October 25, 2016 to October 9, 2019 was granted at 10 percent and increased to 30 percent starting October 10, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder with unspecified anxiety disorder and cannabis abuse is not rated in excess of 70 percent. The rating for asthma remains unchanged. The left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for lateral instability, and separate ratings of 10 percent each are granted for limitation of flexion and extension. These ratings are subject to the regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the Veteran's symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his combined rating is insufficient to meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability and hypertension due to incomplete records, need for further examination, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded as the current examination did not address whether it is aggravated by his service-connected back and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD, left shoulder strain, left elbow strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain are all rated at their maximum levels. The Board has found that remand is required to obtain outstanding records and to afford the Veteran new VA examinations.,The Veteran's migraines have been granted service connection with a 0 percent rating effective May 1, 2018. The Board has also found that remand is required for issuance of a SOC regarding an earlier effective date for migraines.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to her service-connected schizoaffective disorder.,Service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's cervical osteoarthritis has been granted service connection. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development and medical opinions.

Service connection granted for right knee strain, right tibia shin splint, and right hip degenerative arthritis.,An effective date of January 20, 2017 was assigned for the grant of service connection.