Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee, right knee, and right ankle due to inadequate opinions from the June 2020 VA examiner. The examiner did not address websites cited by the Veteran's representative or the Veteran’s contentions regarding joint pain persisting since service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that her current knee conditions are aggravated by her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for left knee osteoarthritis and instability, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knee disabilities, including rating determinations and TDIU determination. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any available Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's left knee patella femoral syndrome with subpatellar tendonitis and DJD is rated at 10 percent prior to August 19, 2016. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability from August 19, 2016 has been granted.

The Veteran's right knee condition, left shin splints, and bilateral plantar fasciitis have been granted. The Veteran's right knee condition is found to be proximately due to her service-connected back disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and a left knee disability. Her left shin splints are denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. A 30 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis has been granted since November 15, 2019.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran needs a new examination to assess the severity of his right knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disability was aggravated beyond its natural progression during his second period of active duty, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and has ordered another remand for several issues, including obtaining missing service records and providing an adequate opinion regarding the right knee condition.

The claim to reopen service connection for a left knee disability is granted, and the issue of whether it is related to service is remanded.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee strain due to inadequate previous examinations, and to obtain updated medical records. The examination will assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a left knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence and an incomplete medical history. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine if the current left knee condition is related to the 2000 in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions and outstanding records. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, right hip, and right lung disorders are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and physical conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of any of his claimed conditions, and thus denied service connection for all issues. The left ankle and ulcer claims are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes, hypertension, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and lumbar radiculopathy. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are etiologically related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current knee conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his disabilities and service. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, acquired psychiatric disorder, left ankle disability, right knee disability, or lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating prior to the prosthetic replacement of her left knee is remanded due to a lack of information regarding whether her knee ever manifested in ankylosis.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's service-connected knee conditions, including a right knee medial meniscus tear and associated left knee condition. The case requires further development with an examination of the current severity of these conditions.