Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issues of service connection for right ankle and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional action, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various conditions are being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral hip disabilities, right knee disability, and left knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish an in-service incurrence or a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of June 12, 2014 for the award of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to her failure to file a claim based on service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet prior to October 26, 2016 were denied. Beginning October 26, 2016, his evaluations were increased to 40 percent.,Service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for left knee and lung conditions were reopened, but service connection was denied. The rating for hypertension was also denied. Other issues related to PTSD, COPD, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee scar, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury during combat.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a lack of proper notification for an examination. The Veteran's right knee disability needs further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), and spine/low back disability (secondary to right knee) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected joint instability and painful flexion of the left knee are rated at a 30 percent disability effective November 1, 1999.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a left shoulder disorder, have been granted. The decision also remanded the claim for service connection of the left shoulder disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was denied. The Board found no current disability of hearing loss in the right ear for VA purposes at any time since separation from service in March 1991. Service connection for back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all service connection claims, including hepatitis C, PTSD, bilateral knee disorder, dizziness, and post resection arteriovenous malformation of the right frontal lobe.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition is granted, as the evidence shows a current disability and a link between the condition and his active duty service. The Board found that the Veteran's right knee condition was related to an injury he sustained in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing left knee ACL reconstruction was aggravated by service. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, including incomplete service records and conflicting reports of when his knee problems began. The Veteran should be provided with a VA examination to determine if he has a current right knee disability that was incurred in or aggravated by service or a service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his L5-S1 lumbar spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee patellar tendonitis and patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellar tendonitis and patellofemoral syndrome have been withdrawn. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which was found to relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.