Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records and his VR&E files, as these documents are relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claims for headaches, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is granted. The claim for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for left leg length discrepancy, but granted claims for service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right wrist injury, left wrist injury, hypertension, and left knee condition due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The examiner will assess whether his current left knee disorders, including arthritis, are related to his military service and if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted with a 20 percent rating, and the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus is denied. Other claims are either denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical examination reports and failure to address functional loss. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but he contends it should be higher.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's below the left knee amputation is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and additional disability of the low back, as well as several other issues, are being remanded due to insufficient development or evidence. The remaining claims have been addressed in the November 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to psoriasis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and remanded the issue of rating his left knee disability in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected. The left-hand, right-wrist, and left-elbow disabilities are denied. The left-knee disability is remanded for further review.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities had their onset during service, granting service connection for these conditions. The back disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left knee disability, finding that these conditions are not related to his service-connected ankle sprains.

The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear with arthroscopic repair is granted service connection.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder and sleep apnea are granted, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder) remains pending due to insufficient evidence at this time.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU as of November 27, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Prior to this date, the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and shoulder conditions, as well as other disabilities, have been denied. The criteria for the requested increases in rating were not met.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for gout and entitlement to a TDIU rating are being remanded due to inadequate examination, inextricability of the issues, and need for verification of incarceration status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for painful joints, including as due to exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards, is being remanded. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran’s complaints of joint pain in his hands and knees.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claims for right knee disorder, coronary artery disease, and PTSD were not granted. The effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied as it was received within one year of the Veteran's separation from active duty. The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting a direct link to his military service.