Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, neck condition, and right knee disability has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence received within a year of the June 2002 rating decision supports these claims. Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder with TDIU due to service-connected major depression.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, as it is unclear whether his condition is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion from a medical professional.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting a nexus to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for depressive disorder. The claims for right knee, left knee, and left ankle conditions are remanded due to lack of VA treatment records. The psychiatric disability claim is also remanded for additional medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and arthritis have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left and right knee femoropatellar syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support higher or separate ratings than those currently assigned.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of bilateral total knee replacements and TDIU have been granted. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions is remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder was granted. Additionally, his left knee arthralgia and instability were increased to a 40 percent rating effective October 7, 2019.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for right knee and left knee arthritis as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded several issues including those related to the Veteran's knees, ankles, feet, lumbar spine, and headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private treatment records and scheduling an updated VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right hip, low back, right shoulder, left wrist tumor, bilateral knee conditions, and inguinal hernia disabilities. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain and left and right knee pain have been reopened. The claim for increased rating for fibromyalgia has been granted, with a maximum of 40 percent assigned. The claim for increased rating for lumbar spine disability has also been granted, with a maximum of 40 percent assigned. The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculitis have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating increase due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the origins of his kidney disorder and right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, knee disabilities, macular degeneration, hypertension, aortic blood vessel aneurism, vertigo, COPD, and congestive heart failure, have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The appeal is now moot.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability of the right knee, and remanded other issues including ratings for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, residuals of total knee replacements, DDD of the thoracolumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a PTSD rating is denied as there were no pending claims prior to the October 5, 2016 application.,A TDIU rating is granted effective October 5, 2016 based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his right ear has Level II hearing and left ear has Level I hearing.,Service connection for a left ankle condition is remanded due to lack of evidence in the record.,Service connection for a bilateral knee condition is also remanded due to lack of evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right-hand burn residuals, as well as their impact on his occupational and daily functioning. The claims are not about service connection but rather about rating determinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is granted. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his initial rating decision (August 21, 2015). TDIU is granted for the entire appeal period. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar strain are remanded, as are migraine headaches.