Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate development and need for a new opinion regarding service connection for back disorder, which could impact hip and knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Van Zandt VAMC and possibly a medical addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left tibia fracture was denied, and his claim for service connection for left knee arthritis as secondary to the service-connected left tibia fracture was also denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability and denied entitlement to TDIU. The evidence did not show flexion limited to less than 30 degrees or extension limited to more than 10 degrees, which would warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities were evaluated, but the Board denied entitlement to higher ratings under various diagnostic codes. The decision did not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board dismissed the appeals as they are moot due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, first occurred during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is still capable of sedentary work.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted as service-connected, and his right ankle disability remains at a 20% rating. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current knee disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to December 28, 2015. The reasons include inadequate VA examinations and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip strain and degenerative joint disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee arthritis. The rating of 10 percent for left knee medial meniscus tear, status-post surgical repair, with degenerative joint disease is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disease during or within one year after service and that any current knee disorders are not related to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The claim is also denied on secondary basis as the VA examiner found that the knee disorders are less likely than not caused by or aggravated by the service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a neck disability. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left leg or knee, and right leg or knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a nerve disability was granted, and he was awarded service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, headache disability, and TDIU. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's left knee and thoracolumbar spine disabilities were inadequate, necessitating remand to provide further development.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right knee disability have been denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination after April 1, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral elbow disability, hip disability, knee disability, shoulder disability, ankle disability, erythema nodosum, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a bilateral arm disability has been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not establish that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's initial ratings for residual scar, right knee status-post arthroscopy and meniscectomy and right ankle strain have been granted. The rating for the right leg length discrepancy associated with right femur fracture remains at a non-compensable level.