Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Board denied service connection for low back injury, right knee condition, erectile dysfunction, PFB, and depressive disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.,Service connection may not be presumed for any of these conditions as there is no evidence within one year of separation showing arthritis or other disabilities.

The claims of service connection for back, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back disability, left knee total arthroplasty, right knee total arthroplasty, left hip degenerative joint disease, and right hip degenerative joint disease. The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to link these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling from August 22, 2014. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition due to lack of evidence showing more than limited range of motion and pain.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including lower back, left knee, left foot, and migraines.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's knee and foot conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is not related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence addressing whether his bilateral knee and hip disabilities are related to his service or if his right knee disability is secondary to his left knee disability. The case will be reviewed on a de novo basis as new VA treatment records were received after a prior final denial.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip strain, left hip strain, and right knee strain. These conditions are deemed to have started during the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral vascular disorder of the right and left legs, but denied service connection for bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for bilateral hearing loss, low back pain, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, tinnitus, left forearm disorder, prostate disorder, arthritis, impotence, left hand weakness, and left elbow pain. The Board finds a remand is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondrocalcinosis are rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating due to lack of compensable limitation of motion.,For instability, a separate 10 percent rating was granted as of September 26, 2019. The Veteran's knee is currently rated at 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding his right hip, left shoulder, left wrist, left knee, and left foot disabilities, granting them service connection as well.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the right knee condition is related to service or a service-connected disability. A supplemental opinion is needed from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for lumbar strain, right knee strain (with limitation of flexion), and right foot strain due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess her current disability levels and provide necessary medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all remaining issues have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability may be service-connected as secondary to his left hip disability, but needs further clarification on whether the aggravation of the right knee by the left hip is at least as likely as not.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back, neck, knee, arthritis, and skin disabilities. The issues are being returned to obtain additional records and medical opinions.