Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee condition was granted a separate rating of 20 percent for meniscus condition, and the left knee condition was granted a 60 percent rating due to chronic residuals post-total knee replacement surgery. Both conditions were granted effective from January 5, 2009.

The Veteran was previously denied TDIU for the period prior to March 26, 2009 due to lack of schedular criteria. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment during this time.,For the period from March 26, 2009 to September 11, 2012, the Veteran was granted TDIU as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to personal trauma, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot and knee conditions due to insufficient examination reports addressing whether service connection can be granted based on aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The Veteran contends his current conditions are aggravated by military activities, while VA examiners have found no increase in severity during service.

The application to reopen the claim for bilateral knee condition is denied.,The application to reopen the claim for bilateral pes planus (claimed as a bilateral feet disability) is granted. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The heart disorder claim is also remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 10 percent effective from September 20, 1999. The issue of increased ratings for left knee limitation of extension and instability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's right and left knee DJD with shin splints and exertional compartment syndrome were granted a combined 40 percent rating from May 29, 2012 to May 28, 2017.,A separate 10 percent rating was assigned for the left ankle sprain. The Veteran's left shoulder remote AC joint separation with limitation of motion received a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, the left knee disability is not service-connected, and the hearing loss and tinnitus are also not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for reopening and granting service connection for left knee disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The claims for respiratory disorder, colon disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are remanded due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, low back muscle strain, and right knee strain were previously denied in October 2012. New evidence submitted since then did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability was also previously denied in June 2013. The new evidence received since that decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities must be remanded due to additional development being required.

The Board has reopened the claim for a left knee disability and remanded it for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability, specifically chondromalacia patella, was rated at 40 percent prior to March 1, 2018 and reduced to 20 percent effective March 1, 2018. The reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent is granted as the evidence showed improvement in range of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations. The claims are now pending and need further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include hearing impairment, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and rating considerations due to inadequate VA examinations in previous determinations.