Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for hearing loss was received on September 27, 2017. A compensable rating (zero percent) is denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability from September 27, 2017, is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for chronic prostatitis, anxiety disorder, right knee strain, left knee strain, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted. The rating for anxiety disorder remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee disability, left wrist condition, and left knee condition due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his scar above his left knee is also being remanded as there is no current diagnosis of a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and hypertension. The low back disability claim is denied as there is no evidence it was incurred during service or related to any in-service injury.

The Board dismissed the appeals for reopening service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of both knees, headaches, visual floaters, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disorder (DDD), photophobia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a neck condition due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disorder and remanded the claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). The denial of right knee disorder is due to lack of evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition. The PTSD claim requires further examination as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's left knee DJD arthritis is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. A separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability is granted from August 11, 2014 through August 7, 2018, and a rating of 20 percent is granted since August 8, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left shoulder, neck, back, hip, foot, knee, esophageal (GERD), ankle, psychiatric (PTSD), and heart disorders. The Board found that these conditions were not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the complexity of his conditions and the need to consider all relevant evidence, including statements from those who served with him.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to insufficient medical evidence and procedural errors.

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as moles, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between the condition and his military service.,Service connection for left shoulder disability (osteoarthritis and torn rotator cuff) is denied because there is no evidence of arthritis during active duty or within one year after separation from active duty. The Veteran's current diagnosis occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for right shoulder disability (osteoarthritis and torn rotator cuff) is denied due to lack of evidence showing a connection between the condition and his military service. The Veteran's current diagnosis also occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for left knee disability (osteoarthritis) is denied because there is no evidence of arthritis during active duty or within one year after separation from active duty. The Veteran's current diagnosis occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for right knee disability (osteoarthritis) is denied as the first record of arthritis was over ten years after the Veteran's last period of active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbar arthritis, radiculopathy, right knee DJD, and left knee DJD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, right heel spur, and service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than March 10, 2017 for the increased rating of 30 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance for specially adapted housing is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to independently ambulate.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disabilities, including strain and residuals from November 2010 meniscal surgery, as well as for residuals of a left rib cage injury with pain and functional loss. The decision is based on the presumption that these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination of his service-connected lumbar spine, right hip, right ankle, and right knee disabilities. The issues include increased evaluations for these conditions.