Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities have been denied increased ratings. The left knee conditions are rated at 20 percent for instability and 10 percent for limitation of motion prior to April 11, 2016. Since June 1, 2017, the Veteran is rated at 30 percent for residuals of a total knee replacement.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for right hip and right knee disabilities due to their withdrawal. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee joint replacement and scar, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, entitlement to a TDIU is granted.

The claim for service connection for a back condition is remanded. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the neck and an unspecified head condition manifested as bilateral hearing loss are also remanded. The issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for traumatic arthritis of the right knee remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the lumbar spine or current neurological impairments other than service-connected sciatica, and thus no higher rating was warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, finding that it is not directly related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral chondromalacia patella.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar strain, bilateral knees, and ankles, as well as her effective date claims. Additional development is needed due to new VA examinations conducted in September 2020.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals, requesting to be rated '100% P&T'. The Board dismissed the appeals as a result.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any time from February 22, 2014.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's low back, neck, or knee conditions as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, and bilateral knee arthritis have been granted service connection. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and bilateral ankle disability has not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and TDIU due to issues with compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 8, 2019. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding his unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to toxins, as well as his knee and back disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hemorrhoids, right knee disability, lumbosacral spine disability, and cervical spine disability.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities have been denied. The VA has determined that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to unclear nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities, including whether they are diseases or injuries incurred during periods of Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of chronic in-service injury or disease and no established continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the current condition is not related to any specific exposure event during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cirrhosis of the liver and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will need further VA medical evaluations to determine if his conditions are related to service-connected disabilities.