Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further verification of his National Guard service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain missing medical records, verify his periods of active duty, and consider possible undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illness if confirmed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his time in service and was denied.,The Veteran's left knee ACL tear, PCL partial tear does not limit flexion to 30 degrees and the instability more nearly approximates slight instability. An increased rating for this condition is granted.,Right knee strain (painful limited extension) associated with left knee ACL tear is not limited to 10 degrees of extension and an increased rating is denied.,Right knee strain (painful limited flexion) associated with left knee ACL tear is not limited to 30 degrees of flexion and an increased rating is denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted based on history of slight recurrent subluxation and slight lateral instability.,Left hip abduction does not result in motion lost past 10 degrees and a non-increased rating for left hip strain associated with left knee ACL tear is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury and resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly rate the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee conditions, specifically regarding functional loss due to flare-ups and distinguishing between symptoms related to the service-connected disabilities from those of non-service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his knee disabilities, as there was no limitation of extension to 15 degrees or dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for ITBS of the left and right knees is 10%, while a 20% rating was assigned for mechanical back strain.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative osteoarthritis is granted service connection. The Veteran's left eye extraocular muscle dysfunction with diplopia, status-post surgical revision of orbital fracture, is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 15, 2018 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,TDIU was granted effective October 15, 2018, but the pre-October 15, 2018 period is not considered due to lack of minimum schedular requirements.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for TDIU prior to October 15, 2018.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, right wrist dislocation, left knee medial meniscus tear post medial meniscectomy, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU claims are all remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's right hip disorder with right hamstring strain has been granted a higher rating of 20 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's right thigh limited abduction has also been granted a higher rating of 10 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his service-connected right knee disability was dismissed as the appellant wished to withdraw all remaining issues associated with this appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as her left knee arthritis and arthritis of the lumbar spine. The issues include whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims, and a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, headaches with dizziness, and left thumb disability. The appeals are now pending before VA for further examination and determination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residuals of a left inguinal hernia was denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for his left ankle condition, claimed as secondary to service-connected right ankle sprain, was also denied due to lack of evidence supporting causation or aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for residuals of meniscal tear of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, left and right knee disabilities, and PTSD. Additional development is required to obtain VA treatment records, disability retirement records from the Railroad Retirement Board, and in-service psychiatric treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and lack of compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred during service or as a result of an in-service injury, disease, or event. Therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asbestosis, cervical and lumbar spine conditions, shoulder osteoarthritis, tinnitus, knee degenerative arthritis, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for blindness, glaucoma, hypertension, TBI, rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, left elbow disorder, right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, left wrist disorder, numbness and stiffness in the right toes, numbness, pain, and tingling in the left leg, joint pain and swelling in the jaw, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral pes planus, left foot bunions, right foot bunions, residuals of a rib fracture, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, tonsillitis, dizzy spells, chronic fatigue disorder, pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat), allergy disorder, breathing disorder, sleep apnea, heart disorder manifest by an irregular heartbeat, ulcer, gastritis, gastrointestinal disorder manifested by gas and stomach problems, GERD, kidney disorder, residuals of a left chest lipoma, obesity, left arm disorder, and numbness, pain, and stiffness in the fingers.