Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the left knee are rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of more than limited flexion.

The Board has found that the VA examinations were inadequate for rating purposes and remanded the case for further development. The issues of entitlement to separate ratings for right knee lateral aspect scar, left knee lateral instability, and right knee lateral instability are all being remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent for the periods from April 1, 2015 to January 31, 2018 and from June 1, 2018. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, bilateral ankle disorder (secondary to knees), and lumbar spine disorder (secondary to knees) due to in-service physical demands during basic training.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability. However, the issue of secondary service connection for hypertension is remanded due to inadequate reasoning in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current knee disabilities and his military service. The Veteran needs to provide information about any private treatment records, and a VA examination is required to determine if there is a connection between his service and his knee pain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination of the Veteran's knees. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or diagnosis that would support a grant of benefits.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her right knee disability after May 1, 2017 was denied. The extension of temporary total evaluation based on convalescence due to surgery or other treatment prior to February 1, 2018 was also denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her right knee scars prior to March 25, 2019 is pending and requires further review.

The Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 17, 2017, and denied for a higher rating.,From July 17, 2017, the Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent and denied for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee condition, and low back condition due to new and material evidence. The appeals are remanded as there is insufficient medical examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and vision/eye disability claims. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability may have aggravated her left knee disability, but this needs further clarification.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected left knee suprapatellar ligament calcification is being remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and right knee disabilities, as previous examinations were inadequate.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a combined (to 30 percent) throughout from May 22, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and need for further development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective from April 7, 2017. The right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 20 percent effective from January 23, 2012 to August 3, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The left knee and acquired psychiatric disorder issues are remanded, as is the migraine headache issue.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 1, 2014, to August 22, 2019. The Board finds that referral for extraschedular TDIU consideration is warranted.