Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including concerns about the adequacy of previous examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted a 30% rating effective January 16, 2014. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date and from May 25, 2019 onwards is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 6, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is being referred to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The claim for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia have been rated as 20% and 10% disabling, respectively. The Board found that ratings in excess of these percentages are not warranted due to the limited range of motion.,Noncompensable ratings for limitation of extension were granted effective November 19, 2015, for the right knee, and September 11, 2017, for the left knee.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathies, as well as right and left knee disorders. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed to determine if earlier effective dates are warranted.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at a noncompensable rating prior to March 6, 2017, and a compensable rating thereafter. The Veteran was granted an initial 70 percent rating for PTSD.,PTSD symptoms include disturbances of mood, irritability, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and diminished ability to maintain relationships.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, back, and TBI disabilities on a secondary basis. Service connection is also granted for his right hip, left hip, and sinus disabilities, but not for his right eye or kidney disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, a right leg disability, and a left leg disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal was partially granted, with a 10% rating for left wrist scaphoid fracture and remanded for further examination regarding right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records. The issues have been inextricably intertwined with his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his lower back and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. A new examination is required to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least as high as the schedular requirement for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted. Service connection is denied for right hip degenerative joint disease (DJD), left hip DJD with iliotibial band syndrome, a right knee disorder to include arthritis, and a left knee disorder to include arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability and heart condition, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected TBI.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss or loss of use other than an upper extremity, and he is not service-connected for a severe burn injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for service-connected right knee strain due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral leg twitching, back disability, left knee disability, skin disability, and speech impediment due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology or relationship to service.