Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, chronic bronchitis, heart disability, stomach condition (to include ulcers), and epidermal inclusion cyst. The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's service or any presumptive exposure basis.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal regarding the service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and right ankle disabilities. As a result, the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder and has also determined that she is entitled to service connection for this condition as secondary to her service-connected multilevel degenerative disc disease most noted at L4-L5 and L5-S1. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues are related to bilateral pes planus and a bilateral knee disability, with the latter potentially secondary to the former.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of service connection claims, including those related to left lower extremity neurological conditions, right lower extremity neurological conditions, left knee conditions, right knee conditions, right ankle conditions, a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right shin splint, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle tendonitis.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations for his hearing loss, back disorder, knee disorders, and psychiatric condition. The claims are currently in remanded status due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has also determined that additional examinations are needed for several issues, including left shoulder strain, right elbow bursitis, cervical strain, thoracolumbar strain and scoliosis, right extensor carpi ulnaris subluxation, left extensor carpi ulnaris subluxation, lipoma on the abdomen, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right hand disability, hearing loss, psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and jaw disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to warrant a compensable rating as the evidence did not show diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or greater.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of in-service onset and no evidence that it manifested within one year post-separation from service.,Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was found secondary to diabetes mellitus, which is not service-connected. The Veteran's back condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hip condition, and bilateral foot condition were also denied as they are not service-connected.,Service connection for a right wrist condition was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's spine disability and left knee disability are granted service connection. The right knee, hip, and foot disorders remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues are now moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is granted as secondary to his right ankle condition. Service connection for low back and tinnitus conditions are denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability was granted. However, the claims for lumbar spine disability were denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating greater than 20 percent for a right knee disability from April 1, 2009.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and meniscal condition, is granted with separate ratings of 10 percent for each. The rating for residuals of right knee strain remains denied.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and left knee condition were denied initial ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings. The lumbar strain was rated at 10% prior to March 25, 2019, and 20% thereafter. The left knee condition was also rated at 10% prior to March 25, 2019, and 20% thereafter.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right knee torn meniscus repair with residual arthralgia (right knee disability), and left shoulder disability were all denied increased ratings. The Veteran's hypertension was also denied an increased rating.,For the initial rating period from April 29, 2016, a compensable disability rating for right knee limitation of extension was denied.