Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and left knee strain have been granted initial ratings, with radiculopathy of the right lower extremity also being granted. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain and for TDIU due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disorder, bilateral pes planus, schizophrenia, periorbital eye disorder, abnormal heart disorder, and defective vision. The decision found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including left knee, right shoulder, spine, cervical myelopathy, and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The appeal of the issue of service connection for dizziness is dismissed. Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted. The issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and headaches are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right knee, and left wrist conditions. The issue of service connection for a right wrist condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the hips and knees, finding no evidence of in-service injury or aggravation during active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The Appellant's current diagnoses were not related to her military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and a need to clarify the type of hearing requested by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for esophageal erosions, right knee arthritis, and left ankle arthritis due to insufficient evidence or lack of a nexus between service connection and these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left knee replacement scars has been remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records. The AOJ will review this evidence and readjudicate the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his current disabilities to service. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if any current disabilities are related to service, including exposure to battery fumes during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's left knee disability to service. The Veteran is requested to undergo a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding no probative medical evidence that indicates the Veteran’s current right knee disability was incurred in service or is currently being aggravated by his service-connected left knee and/or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the Veteran's submission of private treatment records from Capital Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center, which were not considered in the previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for depression secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hallux valgus and bilateral knee arthritis, with a compensable disability rating of 10 percent. The issues regarding increased ratings for bilateral foot scars, right foot hallux vagus, left foot hallux vagus, and effective dates prior to August 25, 2008 have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a link between the conditions and military service. The Veteran's current disabilities are rated at 10 percent combined, which does not meet the threshold requirement for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the Veteran's headaches and clarifying the assigned rating for his right knee surgical scar. The service connection claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, low back disability, PTSD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back scar. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee scar was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral flat feet were aggravated by service, warranting service connection for this condition.