Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the January 2020 remand order and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's secondary disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a right foot disability, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right leg condition was granted a 10 percent rating prior to March 2, 1972 and then increased to 20 percent from September 21, 2009 through April 27, 2010. A 30 percent rating was granted from June 1, 2010 through January 13, 2015.,The Veteran's service-connected right thigh neuropathy was granted a 10 percent rating prior to October 21, 2010 and then increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's service-connected right ankle condition has been rated as 10 percent since October 21, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 7, 2016 for the award of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability have been denied.,An effective date of January 7, 2016 has been assigned for the award of service connection for right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition may have worsened since his last VA examination, and therefore a new examination is needed. The issue of TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the left knee increased rating claim.

The Veteran's fracture of the L3 transverse process is rated at 20 percent. Service connection for other conditions, including a separate lumbosacral spine disability and peripheral vascular disabilities, are denied. Other service-connected issues remain pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased ratings for right knee conditions and entitlement to TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for erectile dysfunction, headache disorder, GERD, and skin disorders. The Veteran's PTSD is also being examined to determine its current severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability near the time of separation from service and that any current left knee disability is not related to service or service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence regarding its etiology and potential aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder, right-knee disorder, and left-knee disorder have been evaluated at a maximum of 40 percent since December 12, 2018. The claims for increased evaluations prior to that date are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on hemorrhoids, right knee disability, sinusitis, and hypothyroidism are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, and left hip disorders as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions in the March 2017 VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension and CAD are also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Osgood-Schlatter's Disease (OSD), bilateral knee arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to OSD. The AOJ is required to schedule a VA examination to determine if OSD clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a chest rash, a right knee disorder, and hypertension as the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee meniscus tear status post total knee arthroplasty. The claims for left and right leg disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are being remanded due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left foot pes planus and/or left ankle disability aggravated his obesity, which may have contributed to his bilateral knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is needed, including obtaining Reserve unit records and a VA examination.