Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of a rating in excess of 20 percent for gout, bilateral knees and feet, and TDIU. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated treatment records from Dr. T.N., conduct an appropriate VA examination, and forward the form (VA Form 21-8940) for completion.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and right shoulder degenerative joint disease have been granted. The disabilities are considered to be related to combat injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's right hip bursitis with knee pain and whether her current right knee disability is due to her service-connected conditions. The Veteran contends that her condition has worsened since the last examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the feet and hands, knees, shoulders, chloracne, and diabetes mellitus type II (DM2), were all denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for atopic dermatitis, left tennis elbow, and left eye condition (condition of the cornea) were granted with effective dates prior to October 18, 2012.,Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, low back pain, arthritis also claimed as joint pain (cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee and bilateral ankles), and respiratory problems and asthma.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his service-connected left knee condition. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical examination. The Veteran's right knee DJD is being reviewed again as part of this process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 as his right knee disability was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him helpless to the extent that he requires regular aid and attendance. The need for such assistance primarily stems from non-service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The conditions are deemed to have onset in service due to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to be rescheduled for these examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and left ankle disabilities due to lack of recent VA examinations, and new evidence has been added since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and right elbow disorder due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral sinus disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and skeletal arthritis due to lack of evidence demonstrating current disabilities or in-service events/diseases related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of hepatitis, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted. The appeals to reopen these claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's 100% disability rating for right knee arthroplasty is maintained, but a 30% rating is granted effective from October 1, 2017. The case is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination of his right knee.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected disabilities or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disabilities. The initial rating claims for left knee degenerative changes and right knee scar are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and an inadequate August 2018 VA examination report. The Veteran's right knee disability is being evaluated again for a complete picture of his condition.

The Veteran's left knee DJD and recurrent subluxation were granted a rating of 10 percent, but no more. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for an increased rating due to lack of incapacitating exacerbations or flexion limited to 30 degrees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The cases of right heel spurs and left heel spurs are remanded for further evaluation.