Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as evidenced by his employment history and the lack of cooperation in obtaining information for his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, collarbone, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to the cumulative impact of his duties as a gunnery mate during active duty. The Veteran reported continuous pain since service and indicated that this pain limits his functional ability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The issues include his service-connected lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report and will proceed with the adjudication of this appeal.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disability, service connection for a right knee disability, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for other specified anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability had its onset in service or is otherwise etiologically related to active service, and whether there is any nexus between the osteoarthritis and the Veteran's service. The examiner must also address whether the right knee disability is proximately due to any service-connected disability, including the Veteran’s service-connected left knee disability, and if it underwent any incremental increase in disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being reviewed again, as is his respiratory disorder.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for DJD of the right shoulder prior to June 2, 2010. From June 2, 2010, his disability remains rated at 20 percent.,For DJD of the left knee, a 10 percent rating was granted from June 5, 2007 to April 7, 2017. After that date, he is entitled to a 30 percent rating for instability and ankylosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle, foot, and knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected right shoulder disability.,The Board also noted that the onset of these disabilities is not within one year after discharge from service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, traumatic brain injury, and right knee disability due to lack of evidence establishing a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee condition and bilateral carpal tunnel due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for back, left ankle, bilateral knee, and right hip disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis in his knees, ankles, and hips are considered to be due to natural aging and excess weight rather than being proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected feet conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA addendum opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically whether his service-connected right knee disorders caused him to become obese or increased the severity of his obesity, which was a substantial factor in causing his left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not service-connected, and the Board has remanded for further development.,The Veteran's COPD may be service-connected if VA can establish a link to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knee and back disabilities, including rating determinations for limitation of motion, lateral instability, and thoracolumbar strain. The remand requires obtaining complete post-service treatment records from the Department of Defense, conducting new examinations to assess current severity, and providing a retrospective opinion regarding flareups.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, neck disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability. However, it denied these claims as there is no evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's current left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion as the VA examiner did not address the Veteran’s reports of an altered gait caused by his service-connected right knee.

The Veteran's right knee and hip disorders are granted as secondary to his service-connected left total knee replacement.,An effective date of January 8, 2015 is granted for the assignment of a 20 percent initial rating for a right shoulder dislocation.