Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.,A decision on the TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the appeal period prior to December 27, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic lumbar strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, mechanical dyspepsia, and testicular torsion with residual orchialgia were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.,The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent due to flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, without ankylosis.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is denied for a left knee condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for pharyngitis with symptoms of sinusitis, rhinorrhea, and cough. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination for his left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the claimed back and left knee disabilities. The VA examiner will need to review the service medical records and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to active service or any in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee limitation of extension and torn medial meniscus, left knee due to inadequate examination results. The VA will schedule a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and right knee disorders are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's back disorder, seborrheic dermatitis, and residuals of right knee injury have been granted service connection. The rating for the right TMJ has also been increased to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining private medical records and resolving issues related to increased ratings and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient examination results. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids and residuals of tonsillitis have been denied.,The claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been denied.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of motion has been manifested with flexion limited to at most 80 degrees and extension to 10 degrees during a flare-up. For the period prior to September 27, 2019, the Veteran’s right knee instability was not shown to be more than slight in degree.,For the period from September 27, 2019, the Veteran's service-connected right knee instability is not shown to be more than moderate in degree.

A rating of 40 percent for a right knee disability is granted from January 9, 2012 to December 27, 2012.,The Veteran's inability to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Veteran's right knee post-traumatic arthritis was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to May 14, 2019. The Veteran now has a 100 percent evaluation for his service-connected right knee post-traumatic arthritis due to total knee replacement.,The Veteran’s left knee post-traumatic arthritis is currently rated at a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee patellofemoral syndrome and increased rating for PTSD was granted. The effective date for the increased PTSD rating is set at August 13, 2015.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, and his left knee disability rating has been remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her left knee disability and service connection for a right knee disability, as well as TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the veteran's claims, including evaluations for various conditions and service connection requests.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and because of the need to consider service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports from April and December 2008, which did not provide specific measurements of range-of-motion under weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. The Veteran's left knee traumatic arthritis is being reviewed again for a new VA examination.