Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has denied an increased rating in excess of this amount.

The Veteran's service connection for restless leg syndrome was granted. The claim for a dental condition for compensation purposes is denied, and the issue of an earlier effective date for right knee arthritis disability rating remains pending.,Service connection for a dental condition for treatment purposes is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress secondary to a service-connected tear of the rectus femoris muscle with healed scarring, low back disorder, right knee and hamstring disorder, right hip disorder, and left ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disability, bilateral knee disability, and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective from March 23, 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluations, and TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous remands. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral hip disability, increased evaluations for his lumbar spine, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected unequal leg length is granted. The rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. A new compensable rating of 10% is assigned for the right knee surgical scar. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition and back condition, both of which are found to be not related to his service-connected right knee condition.,There is no credible evidence linking the Veteran’s current left knee or back conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent from June 1, 2008 to June 25, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not support limitation of extension or flexion that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations. A new examination is required to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for GERD and left knee disabilities is remanded due to clear notice deficiencies, lack of VA examinations, and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 11, 2017 and from July 1, 2017. The appeal is denied for higher ratings.,For the period since July 1, 2017, the Veteran’s left knee disability has manifested with flexion limited to no worse than approximately 45 degrees. The appeal is denied for a rating higher than 10 percent based on limited flexion.,The extension of the temporary total rating for a left knee disability based on limited flexion from May 11, 2017 to June 30, 2017 was denied. The appeal is denied.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s left knee disability has manifested with extension limited to no worse than approximately 10 degrees. The appeal is denied for a rating higher than 10 percent based on limited extension.,The Veteran's recurrent subluxation or lateral instability was rated at 10 percent and characterized as slight. The appeal is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a low back condition, respiratory conditions (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), depression, anxiety, sleep apnea, migraines, left knee condition, right shoulder bursitis, and memory loss. The claims are remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to the Veteran's service aboard USS Forrestal on July 29, 1967. The VA will obtain medical records and conduct examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain and bilateral leg and/or knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's heart condition and right knee condition have been granted service connection. The tinnitus, RLE trochanter bursitis and coxa valga, and LLE trochanter bursitis and coxa valga claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disorders have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The AOJ should obtain all outstanding records, including from Drs. J. and H., and provide the Veteran with a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it began during his active military service and is related to his in-service symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, and right knee disability (secondary to a left knee disability). The decision found that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition in any of these disabilities.