Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various hip, knee, and ankle conditions due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions addressing all relevant issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that November 30, 2011 is the correct date for the grant of service connection for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The cases are remanded for further development on issues related to lumbar spine, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knees disability, and bilateral shoulders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm disorder and low back disorder with radiculopathy, but has remanded her claims for service connection for vestibular disorder (vertigo), right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate from December 14, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The effective date for these benefits is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and meniscal abnormality prior to September 27, 2011, is not rated higher than 30 percent. From November 1, 2011, to June 28, 2013, the disability results in limitation of extension to 10 degrees but does not meet criteria for a separate rating. The total knee replacement post-August 15, 2020, is rated as severe residuals.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoporosis of the right knee, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left leg injury residuals, finding that his symptoms are attributable to his non-service-connected degenerative joint disease in his left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is about his right knee disability, specifically the need for a total knee arthroplasty. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if this condition is related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as service-connected, related to his ACDUTRA training. The left knee total reconstruction claim remains pending due to insufficient medical opinions.,The low back, right leg, and left upper thigh disabilities are not found to be directly related to the right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error where an SSOC was issued instead of a rating decision, and the Veteran's claim for revision of the July 1971 rating decision based on CUE is now referred back to the RO for initial adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including its relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a chronic condition related to his active service. The right hand claim is remanded for clarification on whether the Veteran currently has a diagnosis of cold injury residuals.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the condition did not have its onset during service and is not related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain in his hips and knees is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and etiological opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retroactive medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, middle and lower back, and upper back disorders due to alleged in-service incidents. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral knee condition, right shoulder condition, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right knee degenerative arthritis has been withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of migraine headache disorder is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that his symptoms worsened prior to September 26, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residual scars from right knee diagnostic arthroscopy with fat pad excision is denied as the earliest date factually ascertainable is July 19, 2018.