Knee decisions — 2020

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

The Board has determined that the previous examinations are inadequate and remands the case for a new opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition, including whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was granted effective July 20, 2017. The higher initial rating of 50 percent for the depression has been denied. An increased disability rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine, retrolisthesis with vertebral wedging, and a separate compensable rating for right knee instability have also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee condition is granted. The Veteran is awarded an increased rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for his service-connected GAD and a TDIU due to GAD effective November 1, 2013.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the directives of the prior Remand and has therefore remanded the cases for further development.

Service connection is granted for a disability manifested as difficulty with breathing secondary to service-connected psychiatric disability, and an initial rating of 70 percent is assigned.,Service connection is denied for erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's back pain and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are found to be related to his active duty service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, as it was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back disability, right hip disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bronchitis due to outstanding evidentiary development.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension and noncompensable for limitation of flexion. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran’s low back strain has been rated as 20 percent prior to January 22, 2019 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that there is no evidence supporting a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran’s right shoulder strain (major) is currently rated as 20 percent. The Board finds that there is no evidence supporting a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's right knee disability remains in appellate status and requires further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional VA medical records. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee disability, including a 30 percent rating for limitation of extension and a 10 percent rating for symptomatic disability related to removed cartilage. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of right knee disability, left knee disability, and PTSD. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his knee disabilities and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion, and further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee status post meniscus repair is related to his service-connected left knee strain.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and readjudication due to procedural errors, lack of proper examinations, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee disability due to inadequate examination reports and failure to conduct proper testing.

For the period from August 17, 2011 to January 16, 2014 and August 18, 2016 to September 22, 2019, the Veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus with degenerative arthritis of the spine is not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees, resulting in a denial for higher ratings.,From January 17, 2014 to August 17, 2016, the Veteran's right ankle sprain was limited at most to 30 degrees plantar flexion and 0 degrees dorsiflexion, meeting the criteria for a 20 percent rating.,From August 17, 2011 to February 11, 2019, the Veteran's status post left arthroscopic meniscectomy with post-operative scarring was manifested by painful motion and limited range of motion, but not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.,Since April 1, 2020, the Veteran's status post total left knee arthroplasty with post-operative scarring is not manifested by severe weakness, ankylosis, or extension limited to 30 degrees, resulting in denial of a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis was denied, and his request to restore a 20% rating for right knee post-traumatic arthritis with chondromalacia was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee DJD and TDIU due to new evidence received since the last VA examination, which was conducted in February 2015. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to assess her current status of bilateral knee DJD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition and hypertension due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking direct service connection for his left knee condition, which he contends was caused by a right knee injury during service. For hypertension, the Veteran asserts that it began during service and may be related to stress in service.