Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities of the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and knees, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, neck, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that he required A&A or was permanently confined to his home.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as service connection for bilateral pes planus, were dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues including hearing loss, sleep disorder, head condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, chronic low back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder/arm disability and denied entitlement to an increased rating for the Veteran's total left knee replacement. The Veteran's left shoulder/arm disability was found not related to active duty service, while his total left knee replacement was rated at 30% from March 1, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg condition, including residuals of a lipoma, radiculopathy, and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee synovitis and lateral instability due to inadequate VA examinations, failure to address entitlement to a separate rating under DC 5258, and insufficient reasons or bases in the April 2017 decision denying a separate disability rating for left knee instability prior to January 2018.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and recurrent subluxation, is rated at 30 percent effective from the date of the remand. The rating for the period prior to December 22, 2017 remains denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and 20 percent for limitation of extension, effective from the date of the November 2, 2017 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to inadequate examination in September 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and a need to review newly submitted evidence, including a VA examination for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there have been deficiencies in the VA examination and remands are required for a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, and for consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record. The decision on the left ear hearing loss disability claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee degenerative joint diseases are granted. The cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, and neurological impairment of the lower extremities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The initial ratings for left ankle degenerative joint disease and residuals of a right thumb sprain are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for impairment of right knee external cutaneous nerve due to right knee surgery is being remanded due to the Veteran questioning the competency of the medical examiner who conducted the December 2019 peripheral nerves examination. The VA must provide documentation on the examiner’s qualifications and allow the Veteran an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to outstanding development, specifically obtaining Social Security Administration and private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disorder and lumbar spine disorder. The claims will be reviewed again with new evidence considered.