Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the right knee and for a compensable rating for right knee instability prior to March 9, 2018, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left knee DJD with medial meniscal tear and patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee DJD with medial meniscal tear and patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding the evidence against a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal. The issues of higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability and right wrist CTS, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as a nervous condition, depression, and anxiety is dismissed. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for a disability claimed as sleep and dream disturbance is reopened. The issues of entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and osteoarthritis, right ear hearing loss, and lumbar strain myositis, central herniated nucleus pulposus at L4/L5 are remanded. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran needs a new VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), and Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as a separate rating for lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted. The claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee conditions due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions and authorization for private treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, is related to his military service and has been granted.,An initial evaluation of 10 percent for hypertension has also been granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and left knee degenerative changes were denied service connection. The increased ratings for the left knee prior to July 19, 2017 and since that date were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, bilateral flatfoot, and left ear hearing loss due to incomplete examinations and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the right knee issue due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's current conditions are a lumbar spine disability, right knee strain, tendonitis/tendinosis, and joint osteoarthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for left shoulder, right wrist, left wrist, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to missing service treatment records and lack of recent medical evidence. The Veteran is advised to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant due to insufficient evidence regarding his ability to walk with or without an ambulatory device, as well as the severity of his service-connected right knee arthritis and traumatic brain injury. A VA examination is needed to address these issues.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for right and left knee disorders secondary to thrombophlebitis of the right leg, evaluation in excess of 40 percent for thrombophlebitis of the right leg, and TDIU based on thrombophlebitis of the right leg. Additional development is needed including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right leg thrombophlebitis, and scheduling another VA examination to determine the etiology of his knee disorders.

An initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for right shoulder residuals with arthritis and avascular necrosis has been granted.,Service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete contact information and need for updated medical records.

The Veteran's residuals of TBI, including memory loss and headaches, are granted. The right knee DJD is rated at 30 percent based on subluxation and instability.