Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues (left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee is rated at 10 percent for instability and painful motion, while his light perception in the left eye remains at a 30 percent rating. The appeal does not involve any service connection based on exposure to specific hazards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also remanded the cases of increased rating for right knee strain with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, as well as a compensable disability rating for her right knee scar.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including a left knee disability and its secondary effects on other joints and sleep condition, need further investigation. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine injury, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee condition, right knee condition, left foot condition (to include pes planus, plantar spurs, and fasciitis), right foot condition (to include pes planus, plantar spurs, and fasciitis), cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, bilateral sciatic neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates due to procedural issues and will be addressed in a later decision.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle, right knee laxity, left knee laxity, right knee chronic strain, and left knee DJD disabilities have been evaluated as 20% for the right ankle disability, 10% each for right and left knee laxity, and 10% each for right and left knee chronic strain and DJD. The Board denied increased ratings for all of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including service connection for a lumbar spine disability and Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The evaluation in excess of 60 percent for right TKA and evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee DJD based on limitation of flexion are also remanded.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for TKA of the left knee was denied, but a 10 percent rating as of April 23, 2019, was granted for a tender scar. The Veteran also received an initial compensable rating prior to April 23, 2019, for a scar of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle, bilateral knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been granted. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are also granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various psychiatric conditions, diabetes, a right knee condition, and prostate cancer. The remand requires further development of evidence regarding the Veteran’s claimed stressors for PTSD, verification of his in-service exposure to carbon tetrachloride/toxic chemicals for prostate cancer, and an addendum opinion from the March 2019 VA examiner.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, left knee, right hip, left hip, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as hypertension and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and treatment.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees have been granted at a 10 percent level since December 14, 2008. The appeal regarding higher disability ratings or entitlement to TDIU is still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, tendonitis, and instability, left knee strain, tendonitis, and instability, tinnitus, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve neuropathy, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve neuropathy, and right shoulder strain.,The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to a lack of proper procedural steps taken by the RO in reducing the Veteran's rating for his lumbar spine disability. The issues on appeal include the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent, as well as entitlement to higher ratings for both the lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.