Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was granted in a rating decision issued by the AOJ in December 2019, with an effective date of October 24, 2016. The appeal as to this condition is dismissed because it has been granted and rendered moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and right shoulder strain was dismissed.,Effective dates prior to February 6, 2014 were denied for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and separate ratings for right and left knee instability. The Veteran's TDIU benefits are also granted. However, the issues of higher ratings for his knees and bilateral hearing loss must be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his claimed left knee, hip, and shoulder disorders.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability and also denied the temporary total rating based upon the need for convalescence following surgery for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to July 17, 2015 and an increased rating for his right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional development. The case for TDIU is not yet ready for extraschedular consideration, and the initial rating appeal for the right knee disability must be addressed.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for certain claims and has remanded other claims due to new evidence or issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee degenerative joint disease, including consideration of new evidence and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his current left knee condition and to address issues regarding effective dates.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right total knee replacement is currently rated at 30% from August 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for slight instability of the right knee, and his existing 10 percent rating for painful flexion of the right knee remains unchanged.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss, but remands for further audiometric testing to determine if it meets VA criteria and whether related to service. Service connection for left knee disorder is granted, while right knee disorder remains unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee comminuted patellar fracture, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residual stress fracture left heel with heel spur.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and right wrist disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's left knee disability and left shoulder condition were denied as the current ratings do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied because there is no evidence of its onset in service or a relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is a symptom of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was denied for the right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right knee traumatic arthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability picture does not more nearly approximate the degree required for a higher or separate rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and a rating for tinea versicolor. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records from 1977 to 2014.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to ensure an adequate record for the Veteran's appeal regarding his service-connected left knee disability. The case is being remanded for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee status post total arthroplasty and a back condition due to new evidence added to the record since the May 2014 Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, including range of motion measurements during flare-ups and with repeated use over time.