Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions and a need for further development regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability, including PFPS, and his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, cutis laxa, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been granted service connection. The breast disorder is denied. Service connection for cutis laxa has also been granted with an effective date of November 6, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and right knee disability, finding no link between these conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right knee disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and higher ratings related to various skin, leg, knee, and shell fragment wound conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for tinea pedis and remanded the cases of left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee internal derangement, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right shoulder, left shoulder, and right leg/knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any current disability was related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, low back condition with sciatica, neck condition, adjustment disorder, and Raynaud’s syndrome. Service connection is denied for cellulitis, left knee condition, left hip condition, and right knee injury.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including anxiety, hip and knee disabilities, and hypothyroidism, have rendered her in need of regular aid and attendance due to her functional impairments. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has restored the 20 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain (back disability) effective from June 10, 2015. The initial and increased ratings for the left knee and left ankle disabilities remain denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder DJD, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability are all presumed to have been incurred during his active service.

The Veteran's request for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities has been granted, with the exception of a rating in excess of 20% for limitation of flexion due to right knee status post arthroscopy. The restoration of 20% evaluations for both knees is effective as of January 24, 2020.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus remains at a maximum schedular rating of 10%. A 20% rating for diabetes mellitus type II is granted from July 7, 2010 to November 21, 2011; and a 40% rating is granted from November 21, 2011. The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and bilateral knee disability are remanded. An increased rating for PTSD and cataracts associated with diabetes mellitus type II is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for a headache disorder has been granted at 50 percent. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, migraines, and a left knee disability have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and a low back condition, both of which are secondary to his service-connected left ankle condition. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's GERD and bilateral knee disabilities are not rated higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's tension headaches do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,New evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection of right hip and left hip disabilities, but these claims have not been substantiated.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of abdominal aortic aneurysm and renal mass, as well as his claims for higher ratings on several other disabilities. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that more development is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions are being remanded.