Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for low back disability and right knee arthritis. The claims are granted as both conditions are found to be at least as likely as not aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities can be classified as residuals of organic disease or injury, which could affect his eligibility for SAH.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of a higher rating for left knee disability and TDIU. The case will be remanded to obtain additional medical evidence, including range of motion measurements and information about the frequency and severity of flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and left knee disabilities due to insufficient consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the service connection appeals for respiratory disorders, right shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete STRs from December 1993 to October 1994. Additional efforts are required to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee limitation of flexion is denied. His claim for a 10 percent evaluation as of January 15, 2013, for right knee instability (lateral) is granted. The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent as of July 24, 2019, for right knee instability (lateral) and his claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent as of the same date for limitation of right knee extension are both denied. His service connection claim for asthma is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected neck, back, and knee disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2018. The Board has remanded the case for further review by VA’s Director of Compensation Service regarding entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including GERD, sleep apnea, tinnitus, and right knee strain. The Veteran will need additional VA examinations for these conditions.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability from January 1, 2020. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder (vertigo), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are rated at 100% effective May 31, 2011. An initial rating of 70% for a mood disorder is granted. A separate 20% rating for left knee semilunar cartilage condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability, right and left knee DJD with limitation of flexion, and radiculopathy of the LLE prior to September 14, 2017 was granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than specific dates have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for initial disability ratings in excess of specific percentages have also been dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate disability and a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's complaints of right knee instability and additional range of motion loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded. His TDIU claim is granted effective February 4, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions in prior decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to assess the current nature, extent and severity of his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board dismissed all the claims on appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities, specifically instability of the right knee and chondromalacia of the left patella. The appeal is not about service connection but rather about rating determinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right wrist disability and bilateral knee disability due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the existence of current disabilities and their etiology.