Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, amputation of the left big toe, and amputation of the right leg below the knee. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not presumed to be related to his military service due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for the lower extremity disabilities (left big toe and right leg) could not be granted as they were found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10% prior to September 8, 2013 and at 30% from that date. The knee disabilities are each rated at 10%. These ratings have been denied.,For the period on appeal, the Veteran’s cervical spine disability was rated at 30%, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5242. Ratings in excess of this were not granted as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are related to his military service or an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for low back and left knee disorders due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a new VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for right knee and left foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus with neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The case is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease limits flexion to at worst 70 degrees, warranting a 10 percent rating.,Service connection for the low back disability and sinus disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent for instability, effective July 1, 2018. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s instability warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of May 21, 2018. The RO also assigned a disability rating of 40 percent for mechanical low back pain with lumbosacral strain, degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is remanded due to the lack of VA treatment records and difficulty in obtaining her service records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the severity and frequency of the Veteran's service-connected right hip strain, lumbar strain, and right knee strain.

The Veteran's left knee disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and insomnia are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The claim for anxiety disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service or pain from service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for right knee and middle finger disabilities due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, specifically regarding pain during motion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was reopened and granted. The claims for increased ratings for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, right hip strain, and lumbar spine disability were denied. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of her left knee disability. The maximum schedular rating for sinusitis has already been assigned, and thus a higher rating is not available.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted on an extraschedular basis beginning May 6, 2011. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since then.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to outstanding Social Security Administration (SSA) records that need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and will be reconsidered. The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disabilities from August 10, 2010 to January 22, 2013 were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee laxity or osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion. A separate 20 percent rating was granted for limited extension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for updated treatment records.