Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left 5th metatarsal injury, cold weather injuries to both feet, and left knee injury. The issues will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for chronic left and right knee pain with osteoarthritis, as there is no evidence of limitation of flexion or extension to a degree that would warrant higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee arthroplasty, secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and remanded the cases for further development regarding a rating increase for depression and anxiety associated with his right knee disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, cervical spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, including any residual effects from his total knee replacement and recent arthroscopy.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability. The case will be reviewed again after these issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's in-service complaints of pain.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating for painful motion. The Board finds that his condition does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of ankylosis, instability, meniscal condition, or genu recurvatum.

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues associated with his appeal, including those related to surgical scars of a painful left knee, right hip strain, instability of the left knee, and left knee stable joint. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly assess the Veteran's claims for lichen simplex chronicus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right knee disability. The decision will be remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, a respiratory condition, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examinations and missing records. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral leg limitation is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 10 percent, effective since November 28, 2007. The Board granted a higher rating for the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve as secondary to his thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been reopened.,PTSD has been reclassified as an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee strain have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Veteran's right knee disorder has been productive of severe recurrent lateral instability, a disorder of the right knee semilunar cartilage with frequent symptoms of effusion/swelling, 'locking', crepitation, and giving way, and degenerative joint disease with limited extension. The Board granted separate evaluations for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient compliance with previous instructions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 15, 2016 for left knee DJD with limitation of extension was denied. The claim for a separate rating for left knee instability under Diagnostic Code 5257 was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DJD of the left knee, chronic sinus infection, and sleep apnea have been reopened. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for BPH with urethritis prior to February 19, 2014 is denied.,Service connection has been granted for DJD of the left knee, chronic sinus infection, and sleep apnea.