Knee decisions — 2020

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for a right knee disability and granted an effective date of September 1, 2010. The Board denied an increased rating for the right knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of right knee replacement, finding that his current condition is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disability and chronic kidney disease have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to lumbar spine disability, hypertension as secondary to acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disabilities, but the claim for sleep apnea remains pending due to insufficient evidence addressing its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding his low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA will schedule the Veteran for examinations or medical opinions to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for insomnia, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's VA Form 21-4142 was not properly received by the Naval Weapons Station, and more meaningful attempts are needed to obtain the identified records.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, and eye conditions. The evidence did not show any in-service injury or incident that could be linked to these conditions.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability related to the claimed ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, or eye disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with meniscal tear was rated at 10 percent prior to November 4, 2019. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of limitation in motion or other symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was finally denied in January 2018. She filed a petition to reopen her claim on July 16, 2018 and submitted new evidence within one year of the August 2018 rating decision. The RO granted service connection and assigned a 20% rating effective May 31, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability is denied, but he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for slight instability of the left knee, effective November 8, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion or arthritis that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and service, as well as secondary service connection for his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee condition, and left hip condition to include as secondary to the low back disability due to lack of documentation in service records. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an addendum opinion from VA.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is not granted for the residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or headache disability.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the Veteran's blood clot in left leg and subsequent amputation above the knee, finding that it was not proximately caused by VA care.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating allowed under DC 5201 for impingement syndrome with partial rotator cuff tear, tendonitis, and arthritis of the left shoulder.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under DC 5260.

The Veteran's effective dates for service connection and temporary total evaluations have been denied due to lack of evidence showing claims prior to the assigned dates.,An effective date prior to May 10, 2018 has not been granted for left knee degenerative joint disease as no earlier claim was filed.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including laxity and limitation of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted a higher rating for slight instability but denied the request for higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease and DJD of the right knee and left foot, have resulted in a loss or use of one lower extremity that precludes locomotion without assistive devices. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral knee instability, and diabetes have resulted in a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective July 21, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and major depressive disorder, are not sufficient to qualify for a TDIU due to his failure to submit the required VA Form 21-8940.