Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent for limitation of extension from September 22, 2016 to May 1, 2017 and at 40 percent since May 2, 2017. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee condition is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination.

The Board denied increased ratings for left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, limitation of extension of the left and right knees, and duodenal ulcer.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent effective from July 19, 2019. A 30 percent rating for restless leg syndrome is granted. The Veteran’s allergic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left-knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence did not warrant such an increase.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and its relationship to his military service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private records related to the 1999 foot surgery, arrange for a VA medical opinion on the nature and likely cause of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral knee disability, and determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected cold weather residuals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress himself, keep himself clean, feed himself, attend to personal needs, and protect himself from daily hazards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left radial and ulnar radicular pain, right radial and ulnar radicular pain with paresthesia, and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis as there was no evidence of a current disability or causation to active service.,The Board also denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent disabling for service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for a depressive disorder due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to new evidence submitted after the prior final denial.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as bipolar disorder with cannabis and alcohol abuse and a personality disorder) due to procedural errors in the initial decision.

The Veteran's left little finger scar is not service-connected as there was no current evidence of a scar.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's right knee disability to his active duty, and it is considered an acute injury that resolved prior to discharge.,Service connection for residuals of pharyngitis with history of upper respiratory infection cannot be established due to lack of current diagnosis.,The right ankle condition was noted as a sprain during service but has not been shown to have any chronicity or link to active duty.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's hypertrophied tonsils to his military service.,Service connection for an undescended right testicle cannot be established due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with limitation of extension is rated at 10 percent, effective February 8, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating as the condition does not meet criteria for a compensable rating based on limitation of extension.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability and secondary service connection for a left knee disability as related to the left hip disability. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right third metacarpal fracture was granted with a 10% evaluation.,Service connection for a left hip disability is not granted because the evidence clearly and unmistakably shows that the condition existed prior to service and did not worsen during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current condition is related to his pre-existing condition prior to service and not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, as well as increased ratings for his right knee degenerative arthritis and post-operative meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tear. The reasons include inadequate previous examinations and the need to reschedule an examination due to the Veteran's absence.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of scars, but they are not painful or unstable and thus do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his left knee disability was denied, as the highest possible rating (60%) has already been assigned. The issue related to migraine headaches on an extraschedular basis was also denied.,The Veteran’s claim for TDIU is remanded due to unclear employment information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities, and service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to additional VA treatment records and need for addendum opinions.