Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal regarding the effective date earlier than March 29, 2014 for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder disability is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a sleep disorder (claimed as sleep disturbance) is also dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for left knee and right shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and right knee condition due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his left knee condition, back disability, and individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is granted as incurred during service.,Bilateral hearing loss is not granted, but the claim for tinnitus is granted due to in-service noise exposure.,A right knee disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disability and lumbosacral strain with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease are rated at 20 percent each, resulting in a combined rating of 40 percent. The decision grants the ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to his service-connected disabilities potentially rendering him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and increased ratings for his posttraumatic right knee disability and right knee lateral instability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to unclear documentation and the need for clarification of diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial and subsequent ratings for his left knee disability, left shoulder disability, PTSD, and residual scar related to the chin are being remanded due to procedural issues and need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection to a TDIU were denied. The left knee arthritis and instability are rated at the lowest possible levels, and there is no evidence of individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board denied a higher initial rating for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. The Board found that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate given the Veteran’s symptoms, which include pain but no significant limitation in range of motion or instability.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been caused by noise exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia were denied an increased rating as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis, hypertension, and knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran was found unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected left knee and right wrist disabilities throughout the appeal prior to October 29, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted service connection. The low back condition and left hand condition are remanded for further examination and opinion. The initial ratings for the left elbow fracture and wrist fracture are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee condition was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 31, 2015.