Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a meniscus tear, is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's thoracic herniated disc condition was restored to a 40% rating, and he was granted service connection for left knee strain and right knee strain. Service connection for a right hip disorder (other than right hip pain associated with fibromyalgia) was denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left knee and right knee disabilities due to insufficient development in previous decisions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or more, which would warrant a higher rating. The appeal was based on service connection theory.

The Veteran's service connection for right shin splints, left shin splints, and right knee arthritis was granted with an effective date of October 17, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, postural tremor of the left hand, postural tremor of the right upper extremity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bipolar disorder, are being granted increased ratings. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability during service or its relationship to his low back disability. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical records and a VA examiner will be requested to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete VA medical records and missing audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and bilateral shoulder conditions were incurred during his active service due to the physical demands of military training and duties. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, left knee. The initial rating for chondromalacia of the left knee remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30% from May 21, 2010 onwards. The claim for a higher rating is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder with depressive disorder and alcohol abuse, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease, rendered him unemployable as of December 15, 2010. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post total knee replacement, is rated at 30 percent from March 1, 2018. The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination regarding flare-ups and their impact on functional movement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The Veteran's PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and sleep disturbance are granted with a 50% rating. The Veteran's cervical strain is denied as not warranting an increased rating. The Veteran's right shoulder strain is denied as not warranting an increased rating. The Veteran's right knee tendonitis with shin splints is denied as not warranting an increased rating. The Veteran's BPH is denied as not warranting an increased rating. The Veteran's left shin splint is denied as not warranting a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis, and its relationship to his service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including myopia, left and right wrist disorders, left and right ankle disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, ulcers, a right quadricep disorder, asthma, Lupus (Collagen Vascular Disease and Polyarthritis), osteoporosis with osteopenia, left hand and finger disorders, right hand and finger disorders, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, left foot hammer toes, right foot hammer toes, anemia, and skin disorder. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for left knee instability, but denied an increased rating for left knee strain.