Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and lateral instability, is now rated at 20 percent from March 23, 2016 to November 26, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish that these conditions were incurred during active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities manifested by pain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.,Service connection was also granted for chronic heartburn. The Veteran's hypertension claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and propriety of discontinuance are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for periodontal gum disease and hepatitis A have been denied. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed psychiatric, heart, sleep apnea, neck, upper extremity radiculopathy, head injury residuals, skin disorder, ankle, or knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening service connection for a back disorder was denied. The appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as the initial rating for right knee instability were remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and circulatory disability. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to support the reopening of this claim.,An earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD prior to September 15, 2017 is denied as there was no pending unadjudicated claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and for a TDIU. Additional evidence is needed, including VA examination results that comply with Correia and Sharp standards, and development of the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The remaining issues related to left knee replacement, lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with IVDS, left lower extremity sciatica, and costochondritis with rib subluxation and left breast numbness are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee ACL tear status post reconstruction is as likely as not related to her active duty service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities require the aid and attendance of another person, which grants him special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The claims for increased ratings for left and right knees, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left knee medial meniscus tear, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for further development and adjudication. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, headaches, colonic diverticula (claimed as abdominal pain), low back disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, right ankle disability, right foot disability, and kidney disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate opinions in the original decision. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for his left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, but this claim was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, hip disorders, ankle disorders, and bilateral knee and hearing loss. The reasons for remand include needing to address whether obesity caused or aggravated these conditions due to PTSD or diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for periodontal disease (claimed as gingivitis) is denied because it is not a compensable disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's right knee disorder and digestive disorder, to include pancreatitis and cholecystectomy residuals, are remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.,Service connection for the digestive disorder (claimed as pancreatitis and cholecystectomy residuals) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional review of new VA treatment records submitted since the last Statement of the Case. The issues include rating and service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disability, tinnitus, laceration of the right eye, skin rash (itching), headaches secondary to the laceration, vision loss, ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, hypertension to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, sleep apnea to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, hyperechoic liver mass to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hyperlipidemia.