Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting new examinations to assess her left knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The issues of higher ratings for bronchial asthma, chronic lumbosacral paraspinal spasms, instability of the left knee, and left knee meniscal tear are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition began during or is related to her military service.,Her right fifth metacarpal fracture resulted in pain and stiffness, requiring periodic stretching. She received a 10% rating for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee, effective May 23, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand joint pain, stiffness and swelling, left elbow degenerative arthritis, right elbow joint pain, stiffness and swelling, right shoulder joint pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of motion and function, left upper extremity numbness, right upper extremity numbness, nausea and vomiting, and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, including as secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck pain, stiffness and swelling, including as secondary to service-connected TBI, left knee joint pain, including as secondary to service-connected right knee and left foot disabilities, Athlete's foot, right foot, and TMJD, including as secondary to service-connected TBI have been remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee injury residuals and a lower back condition due to new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, but denied the claims for right knee and left knee disabilities. Service connection for back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is granted. The claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied as it does not meet the criteria due to his TDIU rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, and tinnitus are all granted service connection.,A left knee condition is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the VA examiner's opinion. The case will be reviewed and re-evaluated with new information.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions and seeking initial ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings. The Board has remanded these matters to obtain additional examinations and evidence.,The Veteran is seeking an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), and lumbar disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for various knee and shoulder disabilities, finding that the current range of motion measurements do not meet criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and adjudication due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with cocaine and alcohol use disorder, combined with his inservice smoke inhalation injury, contributed substantially or materially to his death from cardiopulmonary arrest, hypoxemic respiratory failure, and interstitial lung disease. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shin splints, knee conditions, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to potential worsening of his conditions since the last VA examination almost four years ago. The Veteran is also required to undergo a new VA examination for these issues.

The Board denied service connection for left knee condition, right ankle condition, and bilateral hip condition (secondary to left knee condition).,Service connection was not granted as there is no persuasive evidence linking the current conditions to service or any other established theories of entitlement.

The Board dismissed the appeals on all issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate compliance with a previous remand directive. The Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to address the nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's arthritis of the left knee, arthritis of the right knee, and degenerative changes and bulging disc disability of the lumbosacral spine as secondary to his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot, ankle, and knee arthritis but denied service connection for right foot, ankle, and knee arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition as there is no current diagnosis or persistent symptoms related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a left foot disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection of the left knee disability is remanded.