Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for a left knee scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any scars being painful or unstable, and thus no higher rating could be assigned under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders due to lack of evidence showing a link between the conditions and active service.,No new or material evidence was submitted, and the existing evidence did not establish a relationship between the Veteran's current knee disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for left knee disability was granted. However, the claims for both right and left knee disabilities were denied as there is no evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and instability were evaluated at non-compensable levels prior to February 24, 2020. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's right knee instability was rated at 10 percent from October 23, 2017 to February 24, 2020. The claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's right total knee replacement has been assigned a 30 percent disability rating since April 1, 2021. The claim for a higher rating is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the evaluation of the Veteran's right knee baker's cyst and his claim for TDIU, as there are inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for a right knee disability due to inadequate opinion regarding whether it is related to service. The examiner must consider the Veteran's reports of pain and injury during service and since then.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for lumbar spine disability, service connection for left knee disorder, and TDIU based on all service connected disabilities due to new evidence being associated with the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, tension headaches, and scars of the bilateral shoulders and knees due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of extra-schedular criteria due to his service-connected right knee disabilities and employment history.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of flexion to 15 degrees or worse, and therefore, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted. A separate 10 percent rating for instability from July 12, 2016 to October 23, 2019 was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further appellate proceedings due to errors in the earlier effective date determinations for Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits and Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his right knee condition and left lower extremity neurological condition.,The Veteran has multiple conditions that were found to be related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because, despite having multiple service-connected disabilities, they do not collectively render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, back, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities, as well as service connection for migraines and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, but has remanded both the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent and the TDIU claim. The decision is pending further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding no in-service injury or disease and insufficient continuity of symptoms to establish chronic arthritis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including tinnitus, left knee replacement, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), back condition with radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted initial ratings of 10 percent for service-connected left knee condition and right knee degenerative arthritis. The issue of increased rating for hypothyroidism is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee instability had improved and was no longer disabling, thus reducing his rating from 10% to noncompensably disabling effective March 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for right wrist tendinitis, left wrist tendinitis, and right knee iliotibial band syndrome were granted with an effective date of February 22, 2018.