Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The examiner was instructed to consider the presumption of soundness at entry into service and opine whether it is at least as likely as not that the right knee disability began in or is otherwise caused by the Veteran’s active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as dilated cardiomyopathy, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and there was no evidence linking his heart condition to service or any other conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically concerning his reported flare-ups and limitation of motion during such periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether his current knee conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected cold injuries.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), dermatophytosis of the left foot, and dermatophytosis of the right foot.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to determine if any current respiratory, neck, hip, wrist, hand, or knee disabilities are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell cancer and denied service connection for right knee arthritis. Service connection is granted for the Veteran's squamous cell cancer, as the evidence is at least in equipoise that it is related to his military service. However, service connection is denied for right knee arthritis due to lack of a diagnosis within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee strains due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, upper back, neck, headache, right hip, and right thigh conditions. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's children, D.T.P. and D.K.P., are not entitled to dependency benefits as they were over the age of 18 and did not meet the criteria for additional payment due to their school attendance or enrollment status.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee replacement is remanded due to inadequate examination and possible worsening of symptoms. The Veteran will be scheduled for an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for his right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right knee, back, and hip disorders is remanded for additional examination to address the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to new evidence received after the April 2017 SOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability aggravated his left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The decision found that the evidence did not meet criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating schedules.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and obtaining outstanding records. The issues of increased evaluations for right knee disabilities, PTSD, sarcoidosis, and hypertension are being remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development and evidence.,No effective date is assigned as no earlier claim was filed.