Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the issues regarding service connection for left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee disability with limitation of flexion remains under review.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and remanded the issues of increased ratings for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluations for his right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for his service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2017 VA examination used to reduce his rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 60 percent disability rating for left knee replacement is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating than 60 percent for his left knee condition is denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability is granted, effective September 19, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for left knee disability and TDIU due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding the examination of the Veteran's left knee condition. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of current bilateral hearing loss disability.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis with headaches is granted. The Board resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right hip disability, and left shoulder condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hand, right knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to inadequate reasons or bases in previous decisions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which were previously denied. On remand, the Veteran should be afforded new VA examinations to determine if his current symptoms are related to active service or his service-connected mood disorder NOS.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability and for consideration of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of records from the Veteran's alleged hospitalization in Long Binh Evacuation Hospital and the need for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, back, and foot disorders due to inadequate VA examinations and missing medical records. The Veteran's claim for sleep disorders is also remanded as there was no examination or opinion regarding insomnia.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a painful upper left calf scar is denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee limitation of motion due to a left knee scar and right knee limitation of motion due to a left knee scar are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a painful upper left knee scar is also remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right hip and right knee condition, as they are related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to the service-connected left ankle strain. The right knee and right ankle disabilities are denied, and a remand is ordered for further examination regarding insomnia.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence suggesting that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, and right thigh myositis ossificans. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of service connection for a left knee condition and a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, claimed as MST are being remanded due to new evidence received.