Knee decisions — 2020

The appeal of the increased rating claim for a right knee disability is dismissed. The left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left elbow disorder and a right knee disability, but denied service connection for a back condition. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claim of entitlement to service connection for right leg condition. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations for the Veteran's claims of left wrist, right shoulder disability, right arm pain, left arm pain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back disability), left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis. These matters are being remanded due to the need for compliance with previous orders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee disability and gastrointestinal disability due to secondary service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to it being inextricably intertwined with other issues that are currently under development. The Veteran's employment history needs to be updated and verified.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, hypertension, and headaches as they are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left foot plantar fasciitis, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as of August 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disorder, right knee limitation of extension, and right knee limitation of flexion due to additional evidence received.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for several issues, including service connection claims and a rating increase for atopic dermatitis. The Veteran's current ratings remain unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder due to his failure to attend a VA examination. The case is now pending again.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board denied an increased rating due to lack of evidence of incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes with purulent discharge.,The Veteran's left hip osteoarthritis and right hip osteoarthritis are both rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied increased ratings based on the absence of limitation of motion, ankylosis, or other significant functional impairment.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied increased ratings due to lack of evidence of ankylosis, lateral instability, or recurrent subluxation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the previous VA examination. The Veteran's right foot, knee, and calf disabilities are being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and left knee strain. The claim for hormonal imbalance to include low testosterone with residuals of fatigue and muscle and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness is also granted.,Service connection was established based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate reasoning and evidence regarding the left knee disability. The lumbar spine claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right and left knee disabilities has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to the Veteran's failure to appear for an examination, and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's symptoms are believed to have originated during active duty service, but there is insufficient evidence to support this claim.

The Veteran's service treatment records contain in-service biopsies of breast growths and she reported pain and scarring due to her active service. However, no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether the Veteran’s bilateral breast condition is related to her military service.,Service treatment records indicate the Veteran was treated for excessive vaginal bleeding and cervical polyps during service. She underwent surgery in 2010 which revealed uterine hypertrophy with intramural leiomyomata. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's condition pre-existed service and is not related to her active service.

The claims for service connection of right and left knee disability, right hip disability, and left ankle disability are being remanded. The claim for hypertension is also remanded as it may be related to herbicide exposure during service.