Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Appellant's claim for service connection for a right knee disability on an aggravation basis during his period of ACDUTRA in June 1985. The Board also found that the Appellant had status as a veteran for the purpose of VA benefits eligibility during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical examinations and further development is needed.

The Board dismissed multiple claims for increased evaluations due to the Veteran's death, as there is no surviving appellant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for kidney, bilateral knee, and psychiatric disabilities are remanded as VA examinations are needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a comprehensive VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion and instability. The appeal for a higher evaluation has been granted, but the evaluations remain at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities. The VA needs to obtain additional records, including from private sources if necessary, and schedule an examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone result in the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right and left elbow conditions were not rated higher than 20 percent.,The Veteran's right and left knee conditions were not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his cervical, shoulder, back, knee, and extremity disabilities. The claims are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to outstanding private and VA treatment records, incomplete employment information, and the need for examinations regarding his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and upper extremity neuropathies.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues include knee, cervical spine, right shoulder, left wrist, eye socket injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and low back disabilities due to her service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities. The case will be reviewed with a new medical opinion to determine if these conditions are aggravated by her service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection of a left knee disability and remanded the remaining issues. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is also remanded.

The Board granted a separate 30 percent rating for right knee instability and a 20 percent rating for right knee dislocated semilunar cartilage, both under Diagnostic Codes 5257 and 5258 respectively, prior to November 15, 2017. These ratings are effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion on additional functional loss due to flare-ups since April 2005, and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder has been granted. Service connection for right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus is also granted. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depressive disorder, remains at 30 percent prior to May 29, 2019, but increased to 70 percent since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee and depression, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to December 7, 2012. The case is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of a fully-informed decision on secondary service connection, specifically aggravation. A supplemental clarifying opinion is needed.

The Board denied the claims for service connection of a right knee disability and a left eye disability (retinal detachment) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current conditions are related to service despite initial denial.