Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee ACL tears with joint osteoarthritis, as well as his surgical scars from a right knee replacement. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a back condition, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, a right knee condition, and residuals of a head injury are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his service connection claims.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 0 percent prior to January 3, 2018, and 10 percent from that date. The Veteran's left ankle disability is not compensable prior to January 3, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and found that the Veteran's current disability is related to his military service. The propriety of the initially assigned rating for a now service-connected right knee disorder, including the assignment of a temporary total rating following a February 2016 TKR, is remanded.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection of right shoulder disability is granted. The claim for service connection of right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right lower extremity atrophy due to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The other issues regarding ratings for lumbar spine, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU, were denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion were not met.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left ankle and knee disabilities due to outstanding medical records not being available in the claims file.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 20 to 10 percent for his right knee disorder, based on instability, was improper. The Board has restored the prior 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU consideration and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied increased ratings for left knee disability and lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities have been denied, and his claim for a right hip disability (claimed as a right femur disability) has been remanded.,Effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities are also denied.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a low back disorder, right hip disorder, and right knee disorder. The remand requires obtaining additional medical records and providing an examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that the Veteran's right eye condition did not contribute to his death and thus denying the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability is denied as the evidence does not show moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and consideration.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA and/or private treatment records, schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination(s) to determine his need for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or on being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, and address whether he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation.

For the period from August 22, 2017, an increased evaluation of 10 percent for chronic sinusitis is granted.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability claim remains on appeal as additional evidence is needed to determine if it is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability as there is no current diagnosis of a knee disability and the evidence does not establish that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease and recurrent subluxation of the knees are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess their current severity.