Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The Veteran's appeals for back disorder, right knee condition, and left knee condition have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The issues include a back disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic vasomotor rhinitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee claims. The appellant is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and updated SSA records. The Veteran's substance abuse and CAD are also being reviewed for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 30, 2008 and at 20 percent thereafter. The thoracic spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to January 15, 2020 and at 20 percent thereafter. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent prior to May 5, 2017 and at 30 percent thereafter. The left shoulder disability, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was found to have forward flexion of the cervical spine limited to 25 degrees with no additional loss during flareups or after a repeated use over periods of time, not as severe as 15 degrees or less. The thoracic spine disability had forward flexion limited to 60 degrees at worst and no ankylosis was found. The right shoulder disability had abduction limited to 40 degrees at worst and flexion limited to 75 degrees at worse. The left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities were all rated based on their respective limitations.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis has not been manifested by polyps, greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction of the nasal passage on one side.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disorder and low back disorder, both found to be aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis of the right foot with degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated and remanded multiple times. The RO restored the 20% rating for post-AACL reconstruction effective August 1, 2018. Other ratings were denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's knees, requesting additional development and an addendum opinion from the August 2019 VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gunshot wounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, joint diseases, and disabilities of the elbows, shoulders, wrists, ankles, knees, lumbar spine, cervical spine, esophageal cancer, skin disorders, heart issues, respiratory problems, and memory loss. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further development, including an additional VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and right knee disorders were not incurred in service, but have been remanded for further development to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder has been reopened and granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, high cholesterol, tinnitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder), and sleep disorder are all remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee disability was aggravated during his second period of service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disorder is denied, but the claim for a right knee disorder is granted.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, which are secondary to service-connected foot disabilities, need further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and hypertension, and has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to November 20, 2015. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from September 1, 2011 to February 23, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful occupation.,The effective date for the grant of PTSD on the basis of CUE is denied as the Certificate submitted by the Veteran was already in the file when the June 2003 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD was issued.,An increased rating for hemorrhoids from September 1, 2011 is remanded due to missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, including his contention that it is related to his service-connected left knee condition and treatment records from 1991-2004.