Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for right hand dermatitis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis. Service connection was denied for right ear cholesteatoma.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's knee disabilities to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the period from March 19, 2012, to August 1, 2018, for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative chondromalacia and meniscal tear with frequent episodes of joint effusion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an umbilical hernia and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting service connection for a right knee condition.

The Board has previously found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may warrant SMC for aid and attendance. However, a remand is required to determine if he meets the criteria for such benefits due to his need for regular aid and assistance.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disabilities are related to his military service. The case will be sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting findings regarding his right knee disabilities, including ankylosis. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on both schedular and extra-schedular grounds.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and a neck disorder. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability.,Service connection is not granted for heart disease beyond cerebrovascular accident as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to September 27, 2019, and 10 percent thereafter. The claim for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran’s painful surgical scar, status post left total knee replacement, was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating prior to October 28, 2019. The claim for a higher disability rating from that date forward is denied.,The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, and thus does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating.,The Veteran’s service-connected painful surgical scar was rated as noncompensable prior to October 28, 2019. The claim for a higher disability rating from that date forward is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability and entitlement to TDIU, finding that there was no evidence linking his current back condition to his service-connected right knee disability or any other service-connected conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left hand, right hand, and left wrist disabilities secondary to the service-connected right wrist disability. The Veteran's right wrist disability is currently rated as 10% disabling from January 3, 2013 to February 13, 2013 due to a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery. For the period prior to and after this date, the Veteran’s right wrist disability is not entitled to an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to June 9, 2016 due to insufficient clinical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of various wrist, elbow, and knee disorders has been dismissed. The claims for psychiatric disorder, right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and right-hand disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease prior to April 30, 2019 are service-connected. The Veteran is granted a 20% disability rating for the lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorders have been reopened. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports these claims.