Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic left knee disorder during active or reserve service and that any current left knee disability is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is remanded due to missing hearing transcript and lack of treatment records from Dr. John Badlissi.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all appeals regarding his diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and osteoarthritis and chronic ACL tear of the right knee. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and effective dates have also been remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected psoriasis and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, and left ear hearing loss due to inadequate examination reports and missing medical records. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left knee, and low back disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for service connection of various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, right knee condition, lumbosacral strain (back condition), left elbow condition, pes planus, and residuals of melanoma.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by limited range of motion and pain, is rated at 50 percent for the period prior to March 22, 2017.,Since May 1, 2018, the Veteran's left knee disability following prosthetic replacement has been rated at 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right knee, hip, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder as secondary to residuals of a right kidney transplant. The decision is based on medical evidence that prolonged use of immunosuppressive medications and steroid therapy caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a temporary total rating, and right knee and low back disorders have been dismissed. The appeal involving the issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support the claim and concluding that the current right knee disability did not begin during active duty or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for a left knee disability as there was no longer a case in controversy.

The Veteran's initial rating for insomnia disorder has been granted at a 30 percent level. Other issues remain in appellate status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and arthritis as secondary to degenerative arthritis, right knee. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, particularly its relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury and residuals of a right knee injury as the evidence did not show they were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The right knee instability was rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available prior to May 3, 2018. Right knee arthritis with total knee replacement since July 1, 2019 is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active duty.