Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and back disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right knee chondromalacia patella as they require further development due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities, including total knee replacement and residual meniscectomy, are rated at various levels. The Board has found substantial compliance with remand directives for the increased rating claims related to his right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected prostatitis, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, and low back disability are all remanded for further examination and evaluation. Service connection for abdominal pain is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD/DJD and left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear and chondromalacia, s/p meniscectomy are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. New evaluations are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, is also granted.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no further action can be taken on this matter.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, right knee disorder secondary to left knee disorder, and back disability have been granted. The appeals are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to February 24, 2014, or due solely to a single service-connected disability from February 24, 2014, to January 9, 2017, and after March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including subluxation or lateral instability and limitation of extension, is rated at 40 percent effective August 29, 2007 to October 4, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for left and right total knee replacements, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed not related to his military service.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and bilateral shoulder conditions are rated at 30 percent combined, meeting criteria for a TDIU on schedular basis. However, his cervical spine condition is remanded, and he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back conditions, which were related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The VA examiner is requested to provide a new opinion addressing these issues.

The Board denied service connection for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's right knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings or service connection for the conditions listed, including shin splints, knee pain, ankle pain, sciatic nerve impingement, and tibial stress fracture.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee strain, left ankle sprain, tinea pedis, hearing loss, and dry eye syndrome. The AOJ must consider new evidence before making a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, low back disability, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records were not provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is a direct result of his in-service injuries and granted service connection for this condition.