Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings for varicose veins, vasomotor rhinitis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, left knee disability, right knee disability, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to inadequate examinations and incomplete opinions. The issues include determining appropriate evaluations, service connection, and whether the disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to February 13, 2014 and at 20 percent from February 13, 2014 to May 4, 2015. Since May 5, 2015, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent and his right knee and left knee disabilities are both rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is at least as likely as not related to multiple in-service traumas, and service connection for left knee arthritis is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee condition, including any strain, sprain, or meniscal tear, may be related to service and is secondary to her service-connected lumbar spine disability. However, due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions, the case must be returned for further investigation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current right knee condition to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder), and PTSD is granted. The claims are based on aggravation of pre-existing conditions during military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left knee painful motion and right knee patellar tendonitis and chondromalacia were denied. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for symptomatic right knee meniscal repair from November 1, 2011 to March 7, 2019, and a 10 percent rating was granted for right knee weakness and atrophy starting July 26, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders, flat feet, a left shoulder disorder, and migraine headaches. The Veteran needs new VA medical opinions or examinations regarding these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disability and skeletal arthritis, finding insufficient evidence to support these claims. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the bilateral knee is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied an increased rating and a separate compensable disability rating for limitation of extension of the bilateral knee, left knee, and right knee. A noncompensable rating was assigned for scars of the bilateral knee.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee and spine disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disorder are granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition secondary to knee contusion and left knee chondromalacia patella, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA knee examination, and a new one is needed for proper evaluation of the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, so these claims are dismissed.