Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to his incarceration at a corrections facility preventing him from appearing for VA examinations. The Veteran must be located and given another opportunity to appear for an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff tear with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of range of motion assessment during a period of repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the claims for traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety condition, severe headaches, left foot condition, right foot condition, intervertebral disk syndrome (claimed as low back problems), left hip problems, and right knee condition due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type two, hypertension, and renal disease are granted service connection. His bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted service connection. The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes have been granted increased ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, back disability, and left knee disability due to the lack of evidence showing an etiological relationship between these disabilities and service. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right knee and low back disorders have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the need for additional evidence, including private treatment records and VA examination reports.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is rated at 30 percent since December 1, 2015. The rating reflects the severity of his symptoms as described in his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder secondary to PTSD and major depressive disorder. The issues of increased ratings for left knee instability, right knee instability, left knee limitation of motion, and right knee limitation of motion are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinus condition, headache condition, bilateral knee condition, gastrointestinal condition, and low back condition due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for blood clots in both legs, bilateral knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with VA.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 31, 2008 for a 20% rating for left knee instability. The Board found that the disability had not warranted a higher rating prior to February 8, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left hand, right shoulder, neck, lower back, and left knee disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, sinus disorder, heart condition, hypertension, and breast cancer residuals are being remanded due to the need to verify her service dates and obtain missing records.,The Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sinus disorder are being remanded as there may be missing VA treatment records and other relevant documents that must be obtained and associated with the claims file.,The Veteran's claim of heart condition is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from civilian doctors and provide a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is being remanded as there may be missing private medical records that must be obtained and associated with the claims file, and a VA examination will also be provided to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim of breast cancer and its residuals is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from civilian doctors and provide a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis contributed substantially and/or materially to his death. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion considering all relevant evidence, including articles submitted by the Veteran and a private physician’s opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung condition, hypertension, and right knee disability. The lung condition was not related to active service or exposure to herbicides/ asbestos. Hypertension was not caused by service-connected diabetes or PTSD. Right knee disability was not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination findings and additional development is required.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for GERD, to include as due to the Persian Gulf War service, is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder is related to his in-service injury from parachute jumps. The cervical, lumbar spine, knee, shoulder, and elbow disorders are remanded for additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's assertions about injuries sustained during parachute jumps.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for left knee arthritis, finding that the evidence did not warrant such a rating and that the current 10% rating was appropriate.