Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to lack of current disability. The case is remanded for further examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder and lower back disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining updated private treatment records from 2017 to the present. The Veteran's claim of secondary service-connection for upper back/neck disability is deferred pending adjudication of his TBI claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded his right knee disability claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and back disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches was dismissed. The claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) were granted, with the latter being reopened based on new evidence. The claim for allergic rhinitis is remanded, as is the claim for a right knee disorder secondary to a left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right-knee orthopedic disability and neuropathy are remanded due to the need for clarification of symptoms attributed to these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and headaches need further development due to missing service treatment records from his active duty period in July 2018 to February 2019, and outstanding VA treatment records since June 2017.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disorder, right eye disorder, and hemorrhoids due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for scar residuals of a benign lipoma of the back. The Veteran's claim for temporary total evaluation based on hospitalization or surgical procedure requiring a period of convalescence was granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, bilateral feet and ankles disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The VA will obtain further medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning and lack of supporting evidence in the previous VA examination. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed again for a more detailed opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The right knee and hypertension cases are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a right total knee replacement was denied as there is no evidence of severe painful motion or weakness, and the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from February 24, 2017. The Board finds the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss. Tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for osteochondritis dissecans status post meniscus restoration surgery, left knee and degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for more current VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the underlying claims remain denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in denying these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.