Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for her right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations conducted in December 2014 and July 2018. The Veteran needs a new VA examination during a flare-up or after repetitive use over time, with an assessment of functional loss during such periods.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent rating, effective from the entire appeal period. The right shoulder disability is granted an initial 20 percent rating from June 25, 2011 and denied any higher ratings thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for TBI and service connection for a right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right ear otitis media.

The Veteran's claims for left knee iliotibial band syndrome, thyroid condition, bilateral hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, and spine disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied a higher rating for tension-type headaches and granted service connection for tinnitus. The right knee disability issue is remanded due to incomplete examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted. The reduction of the evaluation of chronic bronchitis from 10 percent to 0 percent effective May 1, 2016 was proper. Other claims for service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee ITBS was diagnosed during her active duty service and she is still currently diagnosed with right knee ITBS. The weight of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s right knee condition is related to her in-service right knee problems. Service connection for right knee ITBS is granted. However, there is no evidence linking the left knee ITBS or back condition to active duty service.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and migraine headaches have been granted.,The claims for service connection for gynecological disorders, left ankle pain, right ankle pain, and shortness of breath to include as due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness resulting from service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War are remanded. The claim for service connection for chest pain is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as increased ratings for right knee disability. The VA examinations used in the previous decisions are inadequate, and further evaluations are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10% for the entire period on appeal, with a separate rating of 10% for instability. His left knee disability was rated as 10% prior to May 15, 2017 and 10% from May 15, 2017 onward. The Veteran's PTSD is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and left knee disorders, finding that the current conditions did not manifest during or within a presumptive period of service.,The Veteran's assertions about pre-service knee issues were not credible given the lack of documented findings in service records.

All previously denied claims for service connection have been dismissed.,A noncompensable rating has been granted for bilateral ankle sprains since June 3, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for several conditions, and the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder), right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right foot degenerative joint disease, and hypertension.,The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure for hearing loss or Agent Orange exposure for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records did not document Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate development. The VA must obtain updated treatment records, conduct examinations of the Veteran’s disabilities, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's left knee condition is being reviewed in relation to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee posttraumatic osteoarthritis with possible loose body, finding that the disability was not related to his active service and attributing it instead to an intercurrent injury sustained after service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back condition, and bilateral knee conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.