Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, a bilateral foot disorder, and fibromyalgia. The issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disability are also being remanded due to procedural errors in the prior rating decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, increased disability ratings for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee disabilities remain at 10 percent, with the addition of a separate 20 percent rating for his right knee meniscus tear since April 1, 2019. The decision does not address any new or material evidence that would warrant reopening the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and secondary service connection for left knee DJD, finding that there was no evidence of disease or injury in service and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board has directed an addendum medical opinion due to the August 2017 addendum opinion not identifying alternative neurological or psychiatric disorders and not analyzing whether the Veteran has any current neurological disorders other than MS. The Court also noted that the May 1984 VA neuropsychiatric examination did not support the diagnosis of MS.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, and knee disabilities have been denied due to the failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left and right knee disabilities, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, finding the evidence in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability on the basis of aggravation by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection for left knee strain. The denial is based on the absence of evidence showing arthritis or other chronic conditions in service, and no direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination for the left knee condition, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient reasoning and lack of adequate medical opinions. The issues include sleep apnea, diabetes, and a right knee condition all secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is required due to the need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left knee disability.

The Board denied an increased rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, and referred the issue to the Compensation & Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The appeals for other conditions and issues were dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective as of the date of this decision. The right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left knee and right knee disabilities, as well as a higher rating for his left shoulder disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as for VA examinations. The Veteran was not contacted by the RO to reschedule her previously scheduled VA examinations.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral hand disability, knee disability, foot disability, hearing loss, and emphysema due to the death of the Veteran.