Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various knee, elbow, neck, and hand disorders due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right knee disorder, and a mouth disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has restored the Veteran's right knee instability rating from 0% to 30%, effective November 1, 2015. The reduction was improper due to lack of actual improvement in the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of neck disorder, right knee condition secondary to left knee disability, and migraines have been granted. The right shoulder disorder claim has not met the criteria for reopening.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for asthma, left knee condition, hemorrhoids, and PTSD due to lack of current diagnoses and failure to meet all criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's right knee strain is granted a 10% rating. The left knee osteochondritis dissecans and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his heart disability and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded, as well as the issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance (SMC).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by a February 1980 injury during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was reopened and granted. He is now entitled to VA compensation for osteoarthritis, status post total arthroplasty, of the right and left knees.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's missing service medical records and conduct further examinations to address his claims for various joint, muscle, neurological, cardiovascular, hearing, and tinnitus conditions.

The Veteran's right knee condition, hypertension, and left knee instability have been granted service connection. The separate initial 10 percent rating for left knee lateral instability has also been restored. Additionally, the Veteran was granted a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee chondromalacia due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral shin splints has been granted, and the Board finds that his current condition is related to service. The claims for right shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), left shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), memory loss, chronic fatigue, sleep apnea with CPAP, insomnia, right knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition), and left knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition) have been remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran's current conditions are related to service. The claims for right shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), left shoulder condition (claimed as bilateral shoulder condition), memory loss, chronic fatigue, sleep apnea with CPAP, insomnia, right knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition), and left knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee condition) have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are remanded due to inadequate examinations and lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is not etiologically related to any period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Therefore, service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease has been manifested by painful limitation of extension to no less than 10 degrees and painful limitation of flexion between 110 and 130 degrees. He is currently in receipt of separate initial 10 percent ratings for each knee since June 20, 2013.,The Veteran's bilateral knee instability has been manifested by slight instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip and knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The cases are sent back for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knee and a right shoulder disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for the knee condition and concluding that the current right shoulder disability is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee condition did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.