Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and right knee medial meniscus tear associated with left knee residuals of torn ligament are rated at the maximum allowable under current diagnostic codes. The separate rating for right knee limitation of extension from January 22, 2020 is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left hip disabilities and right knee disability. The issues include entitlement to increased ratings and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left leg disabilities. The remand is due to incomplete records from the Florida Army National Guard.

The Veteran's right knee instability and strain have been rated at 20 percent since January 11, 2011. The RO reduced the rating to noncompensable effective October 18, 2012 due to improvement in his condition. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is granted service connection, and he is awarded a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to recent surgery and incomplete examination reports. The Veteran's service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities are being evaluated, along with her TDIU claim.

The Veteran's left knee condition was rated under Diagnostic Code 5260 prior to August 28, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent and remanded this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, migraines, and various joint conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether these conditions qualify as medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses (MUCMI).

The Veteran's left knee sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and his right knee sprain is currently rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are remanded for further review.,Service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that his flexion and extension limitations do not warrant such an increase.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities have resulted in a TDIU, with the right knee DJD receiving a 30 percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and an in-service injury. The Board noted that while the Veteran reported having ongoing symptoms since service, the medical records did not consistently document such issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient consideration of continuity of symptomatology and lay statements describing his history of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service. The Veteran's COPD is also being reviewed as his use of tobacco products may be related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and provide updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee arthritis is denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for slight right knee instability is granted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis or link to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's claim for a respiratory condition is denied without sufficient evidence.,Right knee osteoarthritis is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding private treatment records and VA medical center records. The claims will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.