Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bladder condition is granted a 60 percent rating effective August 2, 2017. The left knee condition is remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea due to outstanding private treatment records and additional VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection due to incomplete development of his back, knee, and radiculopathy disabilities. The pes planus claim is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disorder, including internal derangement of the right knee. The case is now remanded to obtain VA clinical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine if any current right knee disorder preexisted service or was aggravated by service.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and requires another remand for several tasks, including obtaining VA treatment records from Van Zandt VAMC and other facilities, as well as a medical clarification regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back condition and a left knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee strain is denied. The claims for increased ratings of other specified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (IDVS) and degenerative arthritis status post lumbar laminectomy/discectomy, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 30, 2015 is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and therefore denied her claim. The right knee and foot disability ratings are remanded for further evaluation, as well as a new examination of the residual surgical scars on the right ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted them as to lumbosacral spine, neck, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The remaining claim of service connection for bilateral eye condition is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to bilateral calf and lower leg condition and haircut bumps on the back of the neck has been withdrawn.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, right hand middle and little finger condition, left hand index and middle finger condition, and right knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, and the Board finds no current disability for other claimed conditions.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected gall bladder removal or its residuals. The VA examiner found no symptoms associated with his gall bladder removal.,There is no evidence of a current right shoulder disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current left shoulder disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected right knee disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected left knee disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current lumbar spine disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee status post arthoplasty. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities, but the Board finds that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted for his degenerative arthritis and a separate rating of 30 percent is warranted for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability prior to June 10, 2016. The Veteran's status post arthoplasty is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for kidney disease and gum disease, and has remanded the claims for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, shortening of the right leg, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and wrist, and arthritis of the right wrist.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations and unclear notification of examination schedules.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis disabilities, finding that the evidence does not demonstrate limitation of motion or instability sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for status post left great toe implant is granted at a 30 percent level. The Veteran's right knee disability, secondary to aseptic loosening of the tibial component, is also granted an initial rating of 30 percent from specific dates.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was initially rated at 20 percent prior to November 28, 2016 and then increased to 30 percent from January 1, 2018. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect his symptoms.,For a scar of the left knee, no compensable rating was assigned as there is no tenderness, pain, or limitation of function.