Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The VA needs to conduct a new examination that complies with the requirements of Correia, Sharp, and the previous Board remands.

For the period from December 11, 2014, to September 28, 2017, a 10% rating for left knee instability associated with patellofemoral syndrome is granted.,For the period from September 28, 2017, onward, an increased rating in excess of 10% for left knee disability featuring painful motion and functional loss is denied. For the period prior to August 14, 2018, a 20% rating for right shoulder supraspinatus tear and tendinosis with superior labral degenerative disease (previously characterized as myositis, right trapezius muscle) is granted; from August 14, 2018, onward, an increased rating in excess of 20% is denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral ankle disorders, bilateral knee disorders, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right knee conditions are granted service connection. The cases of basal cell carcinoma, left knee disorder, and right shoulder or trapezius disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The claims include headaches, lower back issues, knee problems, and ankle/foot conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic knee injury in service and noting that any post-service complaints are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's total right knee replacement is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. The Board found that the evidence does not show severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity to warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted due to lack of evidence showing forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.,Both right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board determined that additional evidence regarding flareups or incapacitating episodes was needed for a higher rating, but did not find sufficient evidence to support such an increase.

The Board has found that further development is necessary regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability due to in-service injury. The April 2013 VA examination was deemed inadequate as it did not properly address evidence of continuing symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for iliotibial band syndrome of the bilateral hip and knees have been denied as her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted a compensable rating of 30% for the Veteran's tension headaches. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are causing him to be unemployable, but the VA has not fully considered all of his conditions and their impact on employment. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's GERD was granted service connection as it began during active service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show he was unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, and the appeal is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's headaches, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and upper/mid back condition are all granted.,However, the Veteran's claim for service connection of his upper/mid back condition is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder and headaches due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking direct service connection, not secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating determinations due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The claims are not decided at this time.