Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a sinus disability, have been granted. However, the Board found that there is not sufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating assigned for aortic valve insufficiency is granted with an effective date of April 29, 2008. The ratings for left knee patellar tendonitis and lumbar paraspinal tendonitis with degenerative disc disease are remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31 of the VA regulations, as she is currently employed and does not have an employment handicap.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and lower back disabilities due to inadequate examinations that did not address the frequency, duration, characteristics, or overall severity of flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 16, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure compliance with the prior remand directives for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee and back disabilities, as his testimony indicated that these conditions have worsened since the last evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased evaluation and initial evaluation for left knee conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disorders.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and a meniscal tear, is currently rated at 20 percent. A separate rating of 10 percent for limited extension of the right knee has been granted.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for the Veteran, including those related to left knee, ankle, leg, and shoulder disabilities. The decision also mentions a respiratory disability claim based on in-service asbestos exposure and an eye disability claim involving bilateral cataracts and right eye pin-hole surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for asthma, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient information in the VA examination report. The examiner is asked to provide an updated opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements and buddy statement.

The Veteran's TBI, headaches, intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee strain, tinnitus, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have led to a TDIU being granted. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities significantly impair his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has found that the Veteran's heart disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, and left knee disorder are not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected left hallux valgus. The case is being remanded for additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, multiple orthopedic conditions, glaucoma, tinnitus, and anxiety with insomnia, have not rendered her unemployable since she retired from the Army in April 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable evaluation are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for bipolar I disorder effective April 28, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder results in total occupational and social impairment.

The appeal for higher staged disability ratings for the service-connected left ankle prior to 2007, extension of temporary total benefit for convalescence beyond August 1, 2010, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and back conditions due to a lack of VA examinations.