Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of TDIU for the period prior to March 14, 2013. The Veteran's attorney requested an extraschedular TDIU on behalf of the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective from December 14, 2006.,The Veteran was found to be totally disabled due to his service-connected disabilities as of December 14, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues related to his left knee injury with DJD and instability. The case will be further developed for a determination on the merits of these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including a new etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's diagnosed osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia with secondary synovitis and effusions, and occasional flare-ups and limitation of motion with degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran’s right knee lateral instability is granted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee impairment was denied. However, he was granted a separate rating of 20 percent for his right knee dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion.

The Board denied service connection for polymyositis and inflammatory myopathy, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, sinus headaches, DM II, right knee disability, left knee disability, and MDD. The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to additional development being needed.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, lower back disability, cervical spine disability, and arthritis have been granted service connection. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder has also been granted service connection. However, the Veteran's yeast infection secondary to CPAP therapy for sleep apnea remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20% since December 17, 2007. The Board has granted a separate rating for numbness associated with the left knee.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep disturbances, which are claimed to be related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability, need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and right knee pain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 28, 2009. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's left knee strain is related to his service-connected right knee issues.

The Veteran's initial rating claims for right and left knee disabilities were denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied due to his ability to maintain gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee arthritis, which is presumed to have existed prior to service. The examiner must address whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition was not aggravated by service.