Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left and right knee disorders are rated at 30 percent each, effective July 31, 2020.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 2011. The Board found that a higher evaluation is not warranted and denied the claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left knee, left knee instability, and total left knee replacement are all denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for her total left knee replacement since April 1, 2016.

The Board has granted a separate 10% rating for right knee instability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of intermittent instability do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the TDIU issue due to a lack of examination addressing the Veteran's current disability picture and his ability to engage in sedentary employment.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions have been rated with a 10% rating for limitation of extension, instability, and arthritis. The total knee replacement on the left has also been rated appropriately.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities, finding that each is causally related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The Board also remanded the matter of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 12, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral lower extremity tingling and numbness (secondary to service-connected thoracic spine), left knee disability, and bilateral upper extremity tingling and numbness (secondary to a cervical spine) due to insufficient examination findings.

The Veteran's PTSD and knee disabilities were denied increased ratings. The Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to her bilateral knee disabilities. The decision is based on inconsistencies in the examiner’s findings from a previous VA examination, which did not align with the Veteran's reported symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion addressing the Veteran's paratrooper duties and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has denied service connection for back, right hip, and left knee disorders as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that is related to these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for skin cancer and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates related to her knee conditions and depression. The issues have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral knee condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the previous November 2013 opinion.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for congestive heart failure is denied.,The appeals to reopen claims of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, bilateral arm disability, bilateral knee disability, and back condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine IVDS, right knee arthritis, right knee meniscal disability, and left knee chondromalacia were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted a 30% disability rating for right knee instability from December 13, 2019. The Veteran's previous ratings were denied as they did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities.