Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis have been rated at 10 percent each since July 1, 2011. The hearing loss in the left ear has also been rated at 0 percent.,Both knees are rated under Diagnostic Code 5003 for degenerative arthritis with noncompensable limitation of motion due to painful motion.

The Board dismissed the increased rating claim for right knee strain (flexion) and granted an earlier effective date of June 16, 2008 for right knee strain (painful motion).

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10% for post-operative residuals, right meniscectomy. A separate 20% rating has been granted for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of joint locking, pain, and effusion since March 6, 2008. The Veteran's limitation of motion (flexion) is rated as 10%, effective from March 6, 2008.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been remanded for further development due to issues with his TDIU claim and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, bilateral knee, and shoulder conditions as well as right-side pain due to lack of compliance with previous remand instructions. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed for their relationship to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions are remanded for further evaluation. His lower extremity radiculopathy is also remanded for increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), requiring further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee DJD, left thumb disorder, and left ring finger disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and additional development is needed.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for a left knee disability because the new evidence did not show that the condition was caused or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, finding that the evidence did not show it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a right knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports and need for a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development due to inadequate VA examination and failure to report for a scheduled examination. The claims include entitlement to increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations in July 2018. The Veteran is also required to provide additional medical records.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the rating for low back disability, adjustment disorder, post-traumatic headaches, and left knee disability. The AOJ is required to issue a statement of the case for TDIU prior to July 19, 2016, and readjudicate all claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee injury and hypertension, but not for a back disability. The claims are being remanded for further development.