Knee decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder and left knee scars because the Veteran did not file a substantive appeal after receiving an SOC.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip tendinitis and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for left knee disability due to a service-connected right knee, right ankle, and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and bilateral shoulder disorders, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examination reports. The issues of increased ratings for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee traumatic arthritis with limited motion are pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis or objective findings of these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left femur fractures have been rated based on the criteria for malunion with moderate hip disability.,Since April 9, 2019, the Veteran’s right femur fracture has been rated at 30 percent under DC 5255 (malunion with marked hip disability).,The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right and left hips have not met the criteria for higher ratings.,The Veteran's right shoulder disorder has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 4, 2012, and since June 1, 2012.,The Veteran's left shoulder disorder has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to February 29, 2012, and since April 1, 2012.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar disorder has not met the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disorder has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent prior to August 1, 2013.,The Veteran's left knee disorder has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.,SMC based on need for aid and attendance has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis, knee disabilities, and hepatitis C. The claims are being remanded due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further analysis regarding service connection for knee disorders. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

An effective date of October 9, 2014 is granted for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability was improperly rated under DC 5262 for impairment of the tibia and fibula, but a proper rating based on his specific symptoms (meniscal impairment, arthritis) resulted in two separate ratings totaling 10%.

The Veteran's initial rating for a back disability in excess of 20 percent prior to February 11, 2014 and 40 percent thereafter is denied. The Veteran's initial rating for a left knee disability except for the period from October 25, 2013 to December 31, 2013 for which a temporary evaluation of 100 percent was assigned, is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues due to outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, right eye disability, and sinusitis are remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder), but these claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an exhaustive search for VA medical center records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) related to the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his knee, ankle, and hand disabilities due to unclear medical opinions and the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to new evidence of worsening symptoms. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left knee tendonitis, and traumatic arthritis of the bilateral big toes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disability, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral knee disabilities have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to these conditions.,There is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran’s current headaches, hearing loss, or knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his bilateral hearing loss and right total knee replacement was denied. For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable disability rating. For right total knee replacement, he is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 60 percent.