Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for psychiatric disabilities, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, knee disabilities, and a right index finger disability. The issues are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 4, 2020. The Board granted the TDIU claim effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is found to have proximately caused his right knee disability. Service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as strain and meniscal tear, has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, including DJD of the knees and degenerative arthritis in both knees, as well as a meniscal tear in the right knee, were denied. The RO assigned separate disability ratings based on the specific conditions.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's right shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as his asthma. The claims for increased ratings remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including head condition, sleep disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastritis, cervical spine disability, numbness of upper extremities, knee disabilities, dizziness, arm disabilities, and skin condition. The issues are related to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition and numbness of the left foot as secondary to residuals, fracture, left talus. The claim for service connection for left knee chondromalacia is remanded.,There is no clear evidence that the Veteran's left knee chondromalacia is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis was rated at 10% prior to September 16, 2013. From November 1, 2014, he received a 60% disability rating for his right total knee replacement. The right knee scar has been rated as noncompensably disabling until April 23, 2019 and then at 10%. A TDIU was granted from September 16, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including an increase evaluation for right knee disability and a TDIU prior to February 15, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding no evidence of a chronic condition in service or linking current conditions to service. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's 100% rating for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of specific range of motion measurements for the Veteran's right knee, and another examination is needed to properly evaluate his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of whether his right knee condition is secondary to his left knee disability, which requires further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of arthritis of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence to support aggravation of a pre-existing condition during active duty and that the condition did not manifest in service.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: service connection for a left knee disability and service connection for ulnar neuropathy of the right upper extremity. These cases need additional development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and extension, has been granted a compensable evaluation (10%) since October 19, 2017. The appeal for an earlier effective date was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee pain, finding that it is etiologically related to his active duty service.