Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and a separate 20 percent rating for instability. The temporary total disability rating following surgeries is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for a right knee disability is also denied. The issue of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for the period prior to September 27, 2016 and 20 percent thereafter. A separate rating of 10 percent has been granted for limitation of flexion since February 27, 2019.,The Veteran's right knee disability is rated as 10 percent overall.,Compensation for scars on the left knee is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as further analysis of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as for a TDIU rating due to incomplete records from SSA and worker's compensation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his back and right knee disabilities have been granted, with the back disability receiving a higher rating than the right knee.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent since May 1, 2012. The Veteran’s left knee osteoarthritis was initially rated as 10 percent prior to August 14, 2012 and then increased to 40 percent between August 14, 2012 and August 8, 2017.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 40 percent for impairment of function of Muscle Group XIV and 20 percent for instability, resulting in a combined rating of 60%. The Board finds the Veteran is not eligible for TDIU on a schedular basis due to her service-connected disabilities combining for a 50% rating. However, the case is remanded for consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disability, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral hip degenerative joint disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his skin disorder, are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection claims for a right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service-connected lower thoracic strain, including claims for neck condition, shoulder conditions, arm numbness, hand numbness, and headache. The remand requires obtaining additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by the service-connected back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain with shin splints, an initial compensable rating for right knee strain prior to January 10, 2017, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain beginning January 10, 2017. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of the claimed left knee condition as it was already granted in a previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, degenerative changes of the posterior meniscal horn and patellofemoral joint, infrapatellar bursitis, and patellar tendon tendinitis. The Veteran's current disability is considered to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional medical examination and opinion are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right shoulder, left knee, and right hip conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear is granted a separate 20% rating from February 23, 2015. The Veteran's other conditions are either denied or have partial ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI-related issues and bilateral hip/knee conditions, were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.