Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals for residuals of right ankle sprain and residuals of left knee injury. The appeal for residuals of low back injury, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evaluation and clarification of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right knee disability. The issues include rating adjustments and a combined schedular rating determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to failure of the Veteran to RSVP for scheduled VA examinations. The proper procedures must be followed on remand.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no new evidence or claims were presented.

The Veteran's initial rating for his left knee disability prior to August 13, 2014 was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. From October 1, 2015, he is in receipt of a 30 percent evaluation for his service-connected left total knee replacement.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including HTLV Type 1, allergic rhinitis, right and left lower extremity paresthesia, and knee degenerative joint disease, were denied. The maximum schedular ratings were not assigned for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and need for a supplemental statement of the case, as well as an orthopedic examination.

The Board has restored a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, effective November 1, 2015. The reduction of the rating was improper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but has remanded them for further development and medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for rating purposes and requests a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's osteoarthritis, right knee.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a dentoalveolar fracture related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his right hip disability. Additional development is needed to obtain private treatment records and conduct a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected. The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD with anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, panic disorder, alcohol abuse, and cocaine abuse prior to March 4, 2017, as the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.,No effective date is assigned as the evidence does not indicate a worsening in the one year prior to March 16, 2018.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction, claiming it is secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain. The effective dates for separate ratings for left knee scars, radiculopathy in the left lower extremity, and limitation of extension of the left hip have been determined.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 8, 2009. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee scar, an evaluation of 30 percent for vertigo, and an evaluation of 20 percent for two scars on the left knee and a scar on right ankle are all granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Board has granted an extension of a temporary total rating for service-connected residuals of left knee injury, postoperative based on convalescence following surgery. The Veteran's claim for higher disability ratings and TDIU is also REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's right hip disorder and Osgood-Schlatter disease of the right knee are related to service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.