Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to insufficient evidence in his medical records, particularly regarding his left knee gout, right hip conditions, and chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee conditions were denied. The Veteran was rated at 10% from August 20, 2008 through January 8, 2020 and at 20% since January 9, 2020 for the left knee with mild osteoarthritis status post arthroscopic medial meniscectomy. The Veteran was also rated at 10% since October 25, 2016 for left knee instability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the left knee surgical scar at 10 percent, and he was granted TDIU. The issues of a higher rating for PTSD and a compensable rating for the left knee scar are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Osgood-Schlatter disease of the bilateral knees has been reopened and is now considered on its merits. The Board found new and material evidence to support reopening the claim, but remanded it for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of the disability.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, bilateral hand, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and strain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected left leg, left foot, and right knee disabilities. The VA needs to provide an updated opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee conditions were granted in a January 2020 rating decision. The appeal regarding the timeliness of his March 5, 2014 VA Form 9 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on regular need for aid and attendance is remanded due to the lack of adequate contemporaneous medical examinations. The Board finds that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current state of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to perform activities of daily living.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, stomach, back, and neck disorders have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, his claims for these conditions remain denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The claims for service connection for residuals of TBI, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, left knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee instability and sprain status post arthroscopy, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to April 6, 2017. Additional development is required to obtain medical records and income information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, varicose veins, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions had their onset in service or were related to service.,Service treatment records were silent for complaints or treatment of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to delays in scheduling VA examinations, and requests additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis (OA), finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, sarcoidosis, bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee disorder, and a low back disorder due to his death.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative changes are restored to a 10 percent rating, effective from September 19, 2016. The ratings for right knee instability and bilateral hearing loss remain remanded.