Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of the Veteran's appeal and consideration under FDC effective date rules. The claims will be reconsidered with any additional development needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and leg disability, left knee and leg disability, and lower back disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any other cause.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain and left knee tendinosis are granted service connection.,Further evaluations for the right elbow, left hip, and left lower rib conditions are needed.

The Board has found that further development is required before the Veteran's remaining claims are decided, including determining whether his August 21, 2010 motor vehicle accident occurred during a period of active service and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right-knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral Achilles tendonitis, and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to incomplete records and lack of in-service diagnosis.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that further VA examinations of the Veteran’s lumbar spine and right and left knee disabilities are needed to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee recurrent subluxation or lateral instability and limitation of extension has been denied. A separate rating of 10 percent is granted for limitation of flexion from October 21, 2013 to September 23, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, joint disorder, and shin splints due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The issues of new and material evidence for hearing loss, back condition, bilateral knee condition, head trauma and scarring, and vision problem are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20% from September 15, 2015 onwards.,The Veteran’s left hip extension, flexion, and abduction are each granted a 10% rating from February 1, 2018 onwards. The Veteran’s left hip flexion is also granted a 10% rating from February 1, 2018 onwards.,The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 10% and his left knee disorder is rated at 10%. Both are granted TDIU status.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD with hiatal hernia and post-operative residuals of right knee injury with degenerative changes are being remanded for further evaluation due to a claimed worsening of symptoms.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty and left knee condition are currently rated at the lowest possible levels, and the Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a low back disability, arthralgic right knee, and right knee strain due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and left knee disability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to new evidence received after the July 2019 statement of the case.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability, but granted service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and thyroid disorder.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's low back disability, with reasonable doubt favoring the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee condition/pain, right shoulder condition/pain, and right knee pain/condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing all relevant evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back pain, scoliosis, cervical spine arthritis, left arm lateral epicondylitis, knee bursitis, leg and hip conditions, restless leg syndrome, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, dizziness, foot arthritis, bunions, osteoporosis, hypertension, heart condition, insomnia, sleep apnea, myofascial pain syndrome, eye pain/dryness, gynecological condition (uterine cysts/fibroids), breast cancer, depression secondary to breast cancer, jaw/teeth pain, and PTSD. The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and neck disabilities due to incomplete development. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.