Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder is rated at 30 percent, effective March 24, 2015. The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, wrist pain, sleep disturbance, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeal is pending additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a right knee disorder and traumatic brain injury due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is granted service connection, while his left knee and upper back disorders are denied.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and instability were granted initial disability ratings, with the limitation of flexion and extension rated at 20 percent from January 4, 2013 to January 12, 2015 and March 1, 2015 to March 17, 2016. The Veteran's left knee instability prior to March 17, 2016 was denied a higher rating. A disability rating of 60 percent for total left knee replacement from May 1, 2017 was granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for a disability rating exceeding 10 percent for arthritis of the left knee due to inadequate examination findings and the need for additional development, including obtaining an MRI and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's back, right knee, plantar fasciitis, skin disability of the feet, OSA, headache, bilateral eye, and allergies disabilities are remanded for further examination and determination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further development. The lumbar disc space narrowing L2-L3 claim remains denied, while the right knee patellofemoral syndrome claim has been changed in diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for PTSD and TDIU. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from January 30, 2018 onward, while his right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal remains pending on these issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and anxiety disorder), and bilateral knee pain were all granted service connection. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition and whether it is related on a secondary basis to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for sebaceous cyst, squamous cell skin cancer, and actinic keratosis have been dismissed as withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease has been remanded. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities need to be evaluated for eligibility in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted service connection. The right knee strain claim is remanded for a VA opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for low back, bilateral hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to her service-connected bilateral ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as supraventricular tachycardia, were denied. The evidence showed that the Veteran had pain on motion with limited flexion in both knees, but no instability or subluxation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his National Guard service in 1987 and the potential aggravation of his current spine and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claims are still pending as further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The decision is based on continuity of symptoms since service and the Veteran's lay statements.