Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the Veteran's claims for service connection of ED, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral ankle conditions. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, sinus disability, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 20 percent rating for his service-connected right knee limitation of extension, finding that the reduction was improper due to a failure to apply the correct procedural requirements.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was denied an extraschedular rating in excess of 10 percent from February 12, 2010, through July 6, 2014.,The Veteran's left total knee arthroplasty with traumatic arthritis was denied an extraschedular rating in excess of 10 percent from March 8, 1978, through September 11, 2007.,The Veteran's left knee disability was denied an extraschedular rating in excess of 20 percent from September 12, 2007, through December 9, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for DJD of the left knee, degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the cervical spine, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities (claimed as median neuritis) as these conditions are not found to be directly or secondary to a service-connected disability.,Specifically, the Board determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's left knee DJD, cervical spine degenerative arthritis and IVDS, or radiculopathy of the upper extremities (claimed as median neuritis) to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and right knee strain, as well as his claim for TDIU. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The claims for service connection of hearing loss disability, tinnitus, left knee disability and right knee disability are granted. The claims for service connection of hearing loss disability, tinnitus, left knee disability and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 10 percent prior to January 3, 2017.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS, alcohol dependence, traumatic brain injury, is rated at 10 percent prior to April 15, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability and right knee disability are now granted as service-connected.,Tinnitus is also granted as service-connected, but the headaches and bronchitis issues remain pending.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as lung condition including shortness of breath were granted. The claim for sleep apnea was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbar spine condition and TDIU status has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability, as it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating. For TDIU, the Board noted that the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities prevented the Veteran from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further examination and evaluation due to incomplete testing in previous examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder was granted. Service connection for this condition is also granted.,Service connection for a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder is denied, and a compensable rating for tinea corporis of the groin region is also denied.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and a need for an expert opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the right knee disorders. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee flexion and instability, but denied a higher rating for limitation of extension. The Veteran's pain and functional impairment are considered in determining the appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disability. The Veteran's left knee condition is related to his military service, while the low back condition is also linked to service. However, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 0 percent and the RO needs to clarify when or if a compensable evaluation has been assigned.,The Veteran contends he should have received a higher rating for his right knee disability, which requires further examination and clarification of his current symptoms.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for his left knee disability, which is contingent on the RO clarifying his current right knee disability ratings.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right ankle disability have been granted initial ratings of 10% each, with the left knee flexion limitation being the only issue that warranted a higher rating.