Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not result in occupational impairment that prevents him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 4, 2013 for the award of service connection for right knee arthritis is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations and because the issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to September 6, 2019 and from September 6, 2019. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent throughout the period on appeal.,Service connection for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities is granted from December 21, 2010. TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding his left ankle, left knee, and heart conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is granted.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a nexus to his period of active service.,Service connection was also denied for left ankle disability and right ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, but denied service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for allergies and OSA, but has remanded the claims for a left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right knee condition was granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability and a temporary increase in ratings from January 24, 2010 to June 21, 2013. The claim is denied for a higher rating for limitation of motion.

The Veteran's case was remanded due to the RO not considering all relevant evidence, including a VA examination report and private treatment records. The issue of rating more than 20 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis since May 19, 2014 is now being reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, is due to an in-service accident and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left femur closed transverse fracture residuals are rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's left knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right knee scar and a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful right knee scar, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for these ratings.

The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella and old tear left inner groin adductor muscle group, effective August 14, 2002. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including gout, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle sprain, lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, gastrointestinal pain associated with Gulf War undiagnosed illness, and headaches associated with Gulf War undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's initial 20% evaluation for left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear prior to September 15, 2015 is granted. The Veteran's higher than 30% evaluation for status post left knee replacement after October 1, 2016 is denied. TDIU prior to January 1, 2012 is also denied.

The Board has previously remanded the issues of service connection for a back condition, neck condition, and bilateral knee condition. These issues need further examination to determine their etiology.