Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disorders, but denied all other service connection claims due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to service or Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's right knee meniscus tear has been granted service connection, but the current rating assigned is noncompensable. The Board finds that a remand for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability is necessary due to the lack of recent medical evidence.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for low back strain from July 22, 2010 to July 19, 2013. The left knee disorder claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeals for service connection for various disorders.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions, including bilateral knee disabilities and hearing loss, as well as an increased rating for lumbosacral intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and degenerative disc disease (DDD). The decision was made due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The examiner must address the Veteran’s theory of overcompensation and provide a rationale for their conclusions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on her right knee and PTSD disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, and chronic headache disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement resulted in severe painful motion and weakness, warranting a 60% rating from November 1, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran did not require convalescence after this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back, left hip, left knee, right knee, and psychiatric disorders. The VA treatment records from the relevant time period are needed to make a determination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, rated based on limitation of extension, was granted a 20% rating from December 23, 2011, to November 7, 2018. For the period since November 8, 2018, a separate 30% rating for limitation of flexion is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's right thumb fracture is granted an initial 10 percent rating from August 27, 2013. The remaining issues of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, left leg/knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disability. The right knee disability claim is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for multiple sclerosis, depressive disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorders (other than lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bipolar disorder have been granted. The issues of service connection for other lumbar spine disorders are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the adjustment of his compensation due to incarceration has been dismissed as he did not raise any errors of fact or law in this regard.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding VA and private medical records that need to be obtained for a thorough evaluation of the Veteran's claims.