Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted separate evaluations of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability and 10 percent for his left knee disability, effective from December 17, 2019.

The Board denied a higher rating for the service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's flexion was at worst to 90 degrees with pain and slight instability.

The Board dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to his death.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was shown to have manifested within one year of his separation from service, warranting service connection on a presumptive basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year following separation from service. The Board also found that the current disabilities are not related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected scars from the right knee meniscus surgery, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent combined (20 percent under Code 5258 and 20 percent under Code 5261) from August 13, 2020 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities as they are not secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD, rating higher than 20 percent for low back strain with facet arthropathy, and rating higher than 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with pes anserinus. The issue of rating higher than 10 percent for right knee strain remains remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of COPD, left knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating increase for his right knee condition and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated in excess of 10 percent.,There is no current diagnosis of a left leg disability, and the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for this condition.,Similarly, there is no current diagnosis of a right leg disability, and the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's left knee disability has been diagnosed as arthritis, but the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection due to lack of in-service injury or disease.,Similarly, there is no current diagnosis of a right knee disability, and the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been diagnosed as arthritis with myelopathy and radiculopathy. The preponderance of evidence does not support service connection due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including for opinions on service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, as well as coronary artery disease. The claims are not about exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War, or any other specific exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability, ovarian cysts, and lupus due to lack of adequate medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the July 2020 VA medical opinions. The matter is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left leg disability and an increased rating for the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The Veteran's left leg condition was not found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and his cervical spine disability did not result in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.