Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee and thumb disabilities were rated at 60 percent each, allowing for the award of SMC at the housebound rate after March 1, 2015. The reduction in disability rating was restored, and an effective date for SMC prior to June 25, 2007, was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been remanded.,His claims for increased ratings for DJD of the right knee and right knee instability have also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis with chondromalacia and left knee arthritis with chondromalacia, finding that the Veteran's disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee chondromalacia with traumatic arthritis due to inadequate examination, requiring further development including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for left knee status post unicompartmental medial replacement from April 1, 2015 to September 13, 2017 was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to lack of sufficient evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Other claims for service connection are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine, cervical spine, and degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine. The right and left knee disabilities remain in dispute.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his posttraumatic headaches, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability but denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for low back disorder, right knee disorder, psoriasis, degenerative disc disease and DJD of the lumbar spine, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with patellar tendonitis, and left ear hearing loss due to service aggravation. Right ear hearing loss was denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened for low back disorder and right knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left-knee sprain with meniscal injury and arthritis, as well as left-knee instability, due to a lack of adjudication after the most recent VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. Service connection for traumatic brain injury is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right knee disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left and right knee disabilities due to a withdrawal by the Veteran's representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and for effective dates earlier than May 26, 2016, for his right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for each of these conditions is remanded.

Service connection for a bilateral hand condition is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear (previously rated as patellofemoral syndrome) is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear (previously rated as patellofemoral syndrome) is denied.,Resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, a separate rating of 20 percent for moderate left knee instability is granted.,Resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, a separate rating of 20 percent for moderate right knee instability is granted.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease and sinusitis have been granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent each, effective August 15, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence not previously considered.

The Veteran's skin condition, left knee strain, and lumbar strain have been rated appropriately throughout the appellate period. The Veteran's skin condition is at its maximum schedular rating of 60 percent. His left knee strain has a uniform 10 percent rating for painful motion. His lumbar strain does not meet criteria for any higher ratings.