Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 10 percent for residuals, postoperative medial meniscectomy of the left knee with degenerative changes from October 9, 2002, and greater than 20 percent from July 2, 2015, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the lack of examination addressing functional impacts on employment responsibilities. The right knee disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were granted initial ratings of 30 percent for instability, effective May 6, 2013. The rating for limitation of motion was denied.

The Board has restored the original ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and instability, finding that there was no evidence of improvement to warrant a reduction.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of chronic right knee condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between the current right knee disability and any service-connected conditions. Service connection for left hip disability is remanded due to duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective since August 1997. The claim for a higher rating was denied.,The initial noncompensable rating for the left anterior knee scar remains unchanged.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for additional evidence, specifically a new VA examination of the Veteran's right knee.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome was granted a 10% disability rating, special monthly compensation based on housebound status effective February 28, 2014, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective July 23, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for left knee recurrent subluxation, left knee limited extension, right knee scar, a temporary 100 percent rating for right total knee replacement, and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 24, 2017 for service connection for right knee scar is dismissed.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent since October 30, 2012.,The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective from the date of claim (October 30, 2012).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for status post right knee replacement, residuals of a fracture of the right tibia, and dyshidrotic eczema. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions and their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and hip disabilities due to insufficient development, including inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate cancer, right knee condition, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran had skin cancer attributable to his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's left knee instability, limitation of extension, and painful motion with flexion are rated at a 20% disability rating from August 9, 2007 through April 2, 2019. The Veteran is also granted an initial compensable disability rating for left knee limitation of extension effective November 20, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left upper extremity arthritis, right upper extremity arthritis, dental problems, Barrett’s esophagus disorder, and knee replacements have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or information.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow epicondylitis, cervical degenerative joint disease, lumbar degenerative disc disease, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and right knee chondromalacia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia.,Giving the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, the Board found that his service-connected fibromyalgia aggravated each of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of flexion, effective from May 22, 2019. For the period prior to that date and throughout the appeal period, a separate 10% evaluation has been granted for limited extension.