Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are remanded due to outstanding records from Henry Ford Health System.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate and do not substantially comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities need to be re-evaluated due to functional loss from flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain and an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to unresolved issues regarding service connection and rating of various foot, hip, shoulder, knee, and gastrointestinal conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, residuals of cholecystectomy, and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records, a new examination, and potentially obtaining SSA records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for chondromalacia of her left and right knees, as well as seborrheic dermatitis with eczema. The issues are being remanded for additional VA medical examinations and opinions to determine current functional impairment and whether there is service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain was granted, but an earlier effective date prior to July 9, 2015 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for type II diabetes mellitus and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to the reduction of his cervical spine arthritis rating, service connection for fibromyalgia or chronic pain, and various other disability ratings. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in all these matters.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection of various conditions, including left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and right upper extremity neurological disability were denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease was granted with an effective date earlier than August 23, 2016.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral hip disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 1, 2016 due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his service-connected left knee disability and his current right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to outstanding records and need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of documentation regarding the Veteran's attempted enlistment into the United States Army in May 1976.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability and entitlement to a TDIU were denied due to his failure to appear at the scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's left knee arthroplasty is rated at a 60 percent since October 1, 2019. The TDIU claim was denied as the evidence does not show unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen her previously denied claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and ankle disorders as secondary to her service-connected bilateral foot disabilities. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are caused by her service-connected bilateral feet disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee receiving a separate rating for limitation of extension. The Veteran also received a TDIU from July 19, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulpous at L4-5 and L5-S1 status post microdiscectomy left L4-5 with degenerative disc disease is granted a 40% evaluation, effective from the date of claim. The Veteran's left knee flexion prior to August 13, 2012, and left knee total replacement from October 1, 2013 are both granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee chondromalacia due to a lack of VA examination.