Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining missing VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a cervical spine disability affecting his neck (other than DDD), an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability should be remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's right knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD with anxiety and depression) due to military sexual trauma is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions on several service connection issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his left knee disability, as the previous examination was inadequate and internally inconsistent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left hip disorder, increased rating for residuals of arthroscopy of the left knee, and TDIU prior to June 26, 2018 due to deficiencies in the record. The Veteran's representative filed a Joint Motion requesting that the Court vacate and remand the Board’s February 2019 decision regarding service connection for a left hip disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on whether the Veteran's left hip disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, as well as addressing the Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, along with her ankle disabilities, are rated at 30 percent each from August 3, 2017. The TDIU is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD, low back disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final decisions. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and right knee disability were denied. The low back disability claim was remanded. The initial evaluations for the left knee and ankle sprain residuals are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a decision on his claims due to lack of medical opinions and missing records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his service-connected DJD of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran's service records indicate he served as a helicopter repairer or repairman, which may be relevant to his current conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination of the Veteran's right knee disability during flare-ups. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current level of severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to October 29, 2018 and at 70 percent since then. The Board has remanded the issue of TDIU prior to October 29, 2018.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right knee injury and denied both the original claim for service connection for a right knee injury and the claim for service connection for a low back condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for osteoarthritis status post right knee replacement (right knee disorder). The VA must obtain additional medical records, including those from the Walter Reed Army Hospital and private doctors. A VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the current right knee disorder is etiologically related to the April 1954 in-service assault or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death. The Board found that there is no evidence linking pancreatic or rectal cancer to military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations to assess the current severity of his left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee with instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities were denied in 1994 and again in 2003. She requested to reopen her claims on July 31, 2007, which was granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder, neurological symptoms, sleep disturbance, muscle and joint pain, and skin symptoms. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.