Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of his in-service hospitalization records and a need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development due to pending actions by the RO.

The Veteran's right hand disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. From June 1, 2009 to June 7, 2010, the Veteran was denied increased ratings for his left knee disabilities. Since August 1, 2011, he has been granted a 60% rating for his post-traumatic degenerative joint disease (DJD) status-post total left knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disorder, left foot numbness, and upper extremity numbness.,These issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically obtaining federal records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has denied an earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating for left total knee replacement. The Veteran's claims for service connection of back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia patella and patellar tendonitis are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted a 30% rating, but no higher, for the period prior to May 9, 2018. The Board also remanded several other claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various conditions, including psoriasis, lumbar spine disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, sinusitis, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine sprain with degenerative arthritis and left knee patellar tendonitis with degenerative arthritis due to incomplete development of medical opinions addressing potential ameliorative effects of medications.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and a VA examination to assess the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the most probative evidence indicates the disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right distal tibia fracture with total knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and additional development is required.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy prior to December 17, 2012 is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's right below-the-knee amputation is rated at 40 percent, and his chronic kidney disease is rated at 80 percent from May 31, 2018.,Prior to May 31, 2018, the Veteran's chronic kidney disease was rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran has been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities and unemployability.,Entitlement to a higher disability rating for right below-the-knee amputation is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions regarding pre-service conditions and aggravation. The Veteran is also asked to provide any private medical records related to his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted effective May 20, 2015, which is the date of receipt of the claim. An earlier effective date is denied.,The Veteran's depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are found to have been incurred in service.,A back disability is not considered incurred in service due to lack of evidence showing continuity of symptoms since service.,Hypertension was not incurred in service, as there were no manifestations within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's headaches are found to be proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus and depressive disorder.,A left knee disability is not considered incurred in service.,A right knee disability is not considered incurred in service.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee, midfoot and tibiotalar joint degenerative changes with anterior osteophyte of the distal tibia and calcaneal spurring of the left ankle, and degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, most prominent at L4-L5, have been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right-hand disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and right arm disability. The case is being returned to the Board for additional development.