Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee conditions due to a lack of recent VA examinations, updated treatment records, and nexus opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury residuals and migraine headaches. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's ratings for right knee chondromalacia, mechanical low back pain with spurring, and right knee degenerative arthritis were reduced. The rating for instability was not addressed.,The reductions are considered improper due to lack of consideration of the provisions in 38 C.F.R. § 3.344.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, but remanded the issues of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and scars of the lumbar spine.,The Veteran's claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and scars of the lumbar spine are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, right and left knee strain, residuals of right wrist fracture, and residuals of right elbow chip fracture on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability. The Veteran is also awarded a 10 percent rating for his left ankle strain with chronic synovitis.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and right ear hearing loss. The decision on the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss is pending.,Service connection was established for a left knee disability, with the Veteran's current diagnoses including left knee degenerative disease, left knee pain, and chondromalacia patella.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from May 1, 2014 to August 1, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities that precluded substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability due to further evidentiary development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including range of motion testing and an assessment of whether prior examinations were adequate. The issues include increased ratings for knee disabilities and referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current diagnoses and active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee, hip and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The examiner found no nexus between the claimed disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar strain is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service back strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied and his claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his right knee disorder and to address any functional loss due to flare-ups or repetitive use. The effective date for the 10% rating remains October 10, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and left knee disability, including as secondary to a right ankle condition due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected scoliosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for tinnitus was granted as at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty from December 19, 2018 to December 19, 2019 is rated at 100 percent.