Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral knee arthralgia and chondromalacia, migraines, right great toe fracture, and denied service connection for hypothyroidism. The decision also remanded issues related to service connection for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service. The VA is directed to obtain an adequate opinion addressing the likelihood of a current knee disability being incurred in or caused by service, including the January 1959 incident.

The Veteran's right knee was rated at 10 percent prior to August 8, 2017 due to osteoarthritis and painful motion. A separate rating for instability is not warranted.,A 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage from August 8, 2017 to May 2, 2019 was granted based on the Veteran's testimony at his hearing.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the last final decision, which relates to a current disability and its onset during service. The Veteran's claim for service connection is now pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to new evidence and functional loss. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining necessary medical opinions and treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety neurosis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and left knee instability. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with her other disabilities, rendered her unemployable from July 1, 2014 to July 6, 2016. Her TDIU was granted based on the severity of her PTSD symptoms and the resulting impact on her ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for updated VA examination reports to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for hearing loss, right hip condition, and left hip condition is dismissed. The appeal seeking an increased rating for PTSD is granted with a 100% disability rating effective from the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, back, and left knee conditions. The issues of bilateral hearing loss have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot and knee disorders due to new evidence received in May 2016. The Veteran is requested to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed right and left foot and knee disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records, need for clarification of manifestations and treatment, and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 10, 2003 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The earliest date of entitlement is more than one year prior to the date of claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and further development is needed before a decision on the merits can be made regarding the increased rating for left knee tendonitis.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of functional limitation.,The Veteran’s right wrist scar is rated at 0 percent as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7805.,The Veteran's left knee surgical scars are also rated at 0 percent, with no evidence showing disabling effects or loss of function.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran did not experience an in-service injury or disease and that any current left knee disability is related to post-service injuries.,The Board also denied service connection for a left foot disorder, concluding that the current left foot disability did not have its onset during service and was not otherwise etiologically related to service.,Service connection for a stomach disorder was denied as there is no currently diagnosed disability associated with the Veteran's reported in-service stomach symptoms.