Knee decisions — 2020

The Board denied increased ratings for neck pain, low back pain, left knee pain, bilateral hallux valgus associated with gout, and exercise-induced asthma prior to July 15, 2014. The Veteran's gout was rated at a single 60% effective from July 15, 2014.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative joint disease have been granted initial evaluations of 20 percent, effective from July 1, 2014 to December 18, 2017. The evaluation for total knee replacement remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to incomplete documentation and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for restoration of a 20% disability rating for cervical spine disability and a higher rating for right knee disability with arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support restoration of the 20% rating for cervical spine disability due to improvement in the condition, while finding no basis to grant a higher rating for right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records, private treatment records if available, and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling a VA examination at an appropriate facility.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition, including status post OATS procedure with residual, patellar tendonitis, and degenerative arthritis. The issue of a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following surgery in January 2013 is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for determining the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, including pain and flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, bilateral knee disabilities, a left elbow scar, and a dental disability to obtain additional service treatment records. The Veteran must provide copies of any DD Forms 2808 and 2807-1 that were completed in or around June 2006.

The Board has granted the restoration of service connection for left knee strain and right knee strain, but remanded the cases regarding a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability based on limitation of motion, but granted a separate compensable rating for slight instability. The appeal is therefore considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection and increased rating for disabilities, including low back lumbar sprain, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a knee disability (claimed as knee popping) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not incurred in or caused by active service and is not secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for the right knee disability, finding that the Veteran had continuous symptoms since his reported in-service injury.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Veteran's claimed psychiatric symptoms were not found during the VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes a request for an increased rating for right patellofemoral syndrome and a request for an earlier effective date for service connection. The Board has determined that the issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities due to inadequate examination and lack of medical records. The examiner must consider functional impairment caused by pain, even if there is no specific diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination for left knee disability. The Veteran is requested to undergo another evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residual scars from total knee replacements has been granted, with a 10% disability rating effective as of the date of the decision. The other issues related to effective dates and ratings have been denied.