Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation following his left knee surgery was denied because the records were received more than one year after the surgery.

The Board denied entitlement to a temporary 100 percent evaluation for service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, status post November 17, 2017 total knee replacement. The Veteran's appeal was granted for the left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a lack of medical opinion on file regarding the etiology of his right knee disorder, which is claimed to be related to his service-connected lumbar scoliosis. The Veteran must be given another opportunity to report for a VA examination in connection with his claim of entitlement for a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not show compensable limitation of motion or functional impairment that would warrant a higher rating.

Service connection is granted for PTSD. Service connection is denied for cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims for service connection of the bilateral shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current condition is not related to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence does not support current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disability and right lower extremity sciatica/radiculopathy have been denied as new and relevant evidence has not been received. The claim for skin disability (uricaria) is established but the service connection remains to be determined.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of left knee disability as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability, but denied the underlying merits of the claim. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for his chronic tension headaches.,The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The claims for psychiatric, right and left CTS, cervical spine, and low back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for increased ratings related to left rotator cuff repair, left knee extension, left knee flexion, and left knee instability as these claims have been fully resolved in a previous decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to new information provided by the Veteran, including medical articles supporting his claims. An independent medical opinion is needed from a non-VA specialist in orthopedics.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him limited to marginal employment, and therefore unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. A TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability), left knee disability, and right hip disability. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, secondary to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need for further development. His claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's right knee DJD has been granted a 40 percent rating from December 15, 2011 for limited range of extension due to pain and swelling.,A separate 10 percent rating is granted for right knee instability since January 31, 2007. The Veteran's left knee semilunar cartilage condition has been granted a 20 percent rating from December 21, 2006 with slight instability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Board also remanded for further development regarding service connection for other conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2018 VA examination. The case will be returned for an updated evaluation and consideration.