Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and further development is needed before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her service-connected right leg non-traumatic exertional compartment syndrome with right knee meniscus tear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensable rating are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete actions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral recurrent tinnitus, and right knee osteoarthritis (OA).,There was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The VA audiologist opined that the Veteran’s hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely as not caused by or a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings due to procedural issues, including a failure to issue an SOC on these matters. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it relates back to the original claims.

The Board denied service connection for back, right hip, left knee, and left ankle conditions due to lack of evidence of a diagnosed condition prior to 1993.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent prior to September 12, 2016 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent and denied for a higher rating. The limitation of flexion associated with the left knee strain is also denied.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, a right knee disability, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, and traumatic brain injury. The issues are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right knee instability claim is being remanded for additional development, including issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition, finding that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim and establishing an etiological relationship between the conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current left knee condition to military service or his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the service connection for both left and right knee disabilities has already been granted.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, right knee, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities as the appellant withdrew these claims prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and lumbar spine disorders due to inadequate medical opinions and need for further evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical multilevel spondylosis, multilevel lumbar degenerative spine disease, bilateral Achilles enthesopathy, mid left acetabular sclerosis, and bilateral knee mild osteoarthritis.,Service connection was denied for malaria, right hip condition, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), headaches, and acid reflux.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as a separate rating for his right ankle sprain, have been granted. Each knee disability is rated at 10 percent, with additional 20 percent ratings for instability and impairment of the semilunar cartilage, and 10 percent ratings for arthritis with noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee condition and gastrointestinal condition (claimed as acid reflux) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of CUE in the September 2011 denial of service connection for right and left knee arthritis, finding that the correct facts were before the adjudicator and the applicable law was correctly applied.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 12, 2007 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), to include on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the etiology of his knee conditions, hearing loss, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.