Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's HIV is found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The Board also finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen her claims for low back and right knee disabilities, but does not provide a specific disposition on these issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability requires a remand for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to conflicting opinions and need for additional medical examination. The Veteran's representative raised a theory that his current left knee disability is related to his service-connected bilateral ankle disability, but there are conflicting opinions on this issue.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Board denied a higher rating, finding that the flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5260. A separate 10 percent rating was assigned for extension limitation under Diagnostic Code 5261. TDIU is granted from May 12, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flatfoot disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, right and left eye disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and a back disability. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence to decide the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not show he was in need of regular aid and assistance.

The Veteran's right knee and hip osteoarthritis are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee replacement, with a non-compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee arthritis and its relationship to service, particularly exposure to cold weather. The VA examiner is asked to provide a new opinion considering the Veteran's MOS as an infantryman and his history of cold weather injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The right knee disability has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy and IVDS were rated based on their current severity, with the highest rating granted for LLE sciatic radiculopathy from October 30, 2014. The Veteran was also granted TDIU for a period of time.

The Veteran's low back disability, including myofascial pain syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, has been rated at 20 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or nearly approach criteria for ankylosis or limitation of forward flexion to 30 degrees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral knee disability, finding that the injuries leading to these disabilities were due to the Veteran's willful misconduct during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for cervical spine disability, but has remanded the right knee disability issue due to lack of enlistment examination records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee, right knee, and right ankle due to inadequate rationale in the previous medical opinions. The Veteran's representative argues that his disabilities are secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to inadequate examinations, missing VA treatment records, and new evidence not being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The Veteran died from a brain tumor, but without known pathology of the brain mass, no definite determination can be made on whether the brain mass was related to military service or metastasized from his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as hypertension due to further development being required.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The issues of service connection for knee, shoulder, foot, hand, and low back conditions are being addressed.