Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right rotator cuff injury, limitation of motion of the right knee, and left ankle sprain are all granted service connection. The psychiatric disorder is denied service connection, but the claim for a left shoulder condition is not addressed as it lacks current disability evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for right knee instability.,The Veteran's back disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disorders due to lack of evidence showing a link between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right hip disability is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current right hip disability began during active service or was caused by a service-connected condition.,For the period from June 24, 2009 to October 25, 2015, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee injury with degenerative joint disease is denied as his current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,For the period from June 24, 2009 to October 25, 2015, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied as his current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,For the period from October 26, 2015, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied as his current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, TMJ dysfunction, and chest pain due to a lack of consideration of certain evidence in the September 2015 VA examination. The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia is also remanded as it may be related to her other claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's knee and TDIU claims due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's appeals regarding increased ratings for left knee total arthroplasty and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal in December 2019.

The Board has determined that the prior November 2014 VA examination was inadequate and a new opinion is needed due to new medical evidence since then. The Veteran's right knee condition may be related to active service, but this needs further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability is dismissed because he indicated satisfaction with the current 10 percent rating. The TDIU claim is remanded as the Veteran has provided evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee condition and remanded the case for further development. The claim for an increased rating for hepatitis C was granted, but not fully addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD due to military sexual trauma is granted. The claims for service connection for plantar synovial cyst and bilateral knee disorder are remanded. The claim for service connection for abdominal injury is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The issue of entitlement to VA burial benefits is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to incomplete records and need for a VA retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as for a painful right knee scar. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee pain and dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic low back and thoracic spine disability, cervicothoracic spine pain, left knee disability, and cephalgia/headaches have been denied.,Entitlement to service connection for hemorrhoids, PTSD/Depressive Disorder, and TDIU has been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for spinal stenosis and left knee replacement, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left arm and right knee disabilities have been reopened, but the cases are still pending as they need further examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder degenerative joint disease with a history of rotator cuff repair, right shoulder degenerative joint disease with a history of rotator cuff repair, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post laminectomy, right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscus tear, status post repair, and hypertension. The remand is due to the need for additional development regarding these issues.,The Veteran's service connection claims have been previously addressed by the Board in February 2016 and February 2018, with further remands made in those decisions.

The Board has remanded the initial disability rating appeals for the left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of compliance with prior remand directives regarding range of motion testing.