Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected left knee, left ankle, and right wrist disabilities have been granted. His lumbar spine disability has been increased to a 40 percent rating from August 25, 2016.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for jungle rot and knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of the conditions during the period of the claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim. The remaining issues of rating for left knee arthritis, left knee scar, and right knee scar are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions to address range of motion measurements and functional impact due to flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee arthralgia, left knee arthralgia, and lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and spondylolisthesis (lumbar spine disability) from February 20, 2007 to September 9, 2019 have been denied.,The Veteran's right knee and left knee arthralgia are currently rated at 10 percent each. The lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and spondylolisthesis (lumbar spine disability) is rated at 20 percent from February 20, 2007 to September 9, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for auditory hallucinations, left foot disability, left knee disability, right knee disability and chronic sinusitis. Service connection is now granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to their secondary relationship to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence and possibly an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be related to her in-service injury during ACDUTRA in April 2009.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between current symptoms and active duty service.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral knee disorder, concluding that there is insufficient evidence linking current knee issues to in-service activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left total knee replacement) are found to be of sufficient severity to render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left knee patellar tendonitis and degenerative joint disease, as well as the separate rating for his left thigh disability (residuals of punji stick wound), were denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted after the July 5, 2018 statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip condition, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking it to military service.,The Board also remanded the issues of left knee and lower back conditions secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and analysis regarding his service-connected disability, depression, drug abuse, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as his limitations are due to nonservice-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis was denied. From September 30, 2014 to May 20, 2019, he received an initial 20 percent rating for his right knee meniscal condition and from February 9, 2017 to May 20, 2019, he received a 10 percent rating for his right knee genu recurvatum.

The Veteran's appeal for higher pension rates and special monthly pension based on his spouse's disability was denied due to income limits, while the initial service connection for disabilities was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and back condition. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, back, and headache disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations prior to the July 2012 rating decision. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.