Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied as there was no evidence of an area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater for the left knee scar, and his other conditions did not meet the criteria for increased disability ratings.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as it lacks jurisdiction to review the merits of the denial of service connection for various shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and lower extremity conditions due to the lack of proper submission under the AMA.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral eye disability, heart disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, urinary disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and left foot disability. The Board found that these disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating based on convalescence following right knee surgery. The appeal is not resolved as to these matters.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of direct service connection and insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed all the claims as the Appellant opted into the modernized review system (AMA) and selected the Higher Level Review lane, thus terminating the adjudication of her appeals in the legacy system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of blood clots, left knee DJD, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran’s assertions that his current conditions are related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, hypertension, and left knee disability due to unclear service status from March 15 to April 7, 2002. The RO is instructed to determine if this period qualifies as qualifying service and obtain VA examinations focusing on whether these conditions were aggravated or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right hip disability.,Service connection has also been granted for left hip and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current knee disabilities to injuries sustained during active service. The Board noted that while the Veteran had in-service knee injuries and surgeries, he did not have any chronic knee conditions upon separation from service, and X-ray evidence of arthritis only appeared years after service.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, including testing active motion, passive motion, and pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing. The examiner is also requested to provide a retrospective addendum opinion regarding the degree of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, which exceeds the requested rating of 30 percent.,CAD is currently rated at 30 percent and does not warrant a higher rating due to the absence of congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent.,The thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to forward flexion limited to 60 degrees during flare-ups and after repetitive use testing. The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of left ventricular dysfunction or ankylosis.,Left knee chondromalacia is rated at 10 percent, which corresponds to objective evidence of painful motion without loss in range of motion on flexion. The Veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,GERD with hiatal hernia is rated at 10 percent, which corresponds to considerable impairment of health but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing service records and requests for military records. The Veteran's right leg disability, including crepitus of the knee and/or lower leg, as well as a knee disability, will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran's left knee strain was granted a 30 percent rating from February 21, 2009 to March 17, 2014. The decision also granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability beginning June 6, 2008.

The Veteran's service connection claim for restless leg syndrome was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to her active duty service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to her having multiple service-connected disabilities, none of which alone meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are being reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no further action can be taken on these claims.

The Veteran's heart murmur claim is denied as there is no objective evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition and poor circulation claims are denied due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factor.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted, with secondary service connection already in effect for cervical radiculopathy of the left side.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.