Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate range of motion testing in previous examinations, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee DJD were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating higher than 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting left knee condition was aggravated by her service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities. The claims for a chronic skin condition, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy are withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The right knee arthritis claim was remanded, while the right knee instability and TDIU claims are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, and he is now entitled to a separate 10% rating for left knee limitation of motion.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knees have been remanded, as well as his TDIU application.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right epididymal cyst, left knee disability, bilateral corneal degeneration, left elbow sprain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are dismissed as to these issues.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's residuals of left calf with knee tendonitis/tendinosis and left knee subluxation, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent prior to February 25, 2019, and higher than 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee condition. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The appeal for increased ratings on the lumbar spine disability is dismissed. The right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as the splenectomy and Lyme disease residuals, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for further development and evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee replacement was granted a 60 percent rating effective October 1, 2018.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability from December 1, 2019 has been granted.

The Veteran's right knee total replacement evaluation is remanded due to the lack of private treatment records from his May 2019 surgery.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Separate issues regarding TDIU are also being remanded, with one related to a single service-connected disability other than chondromalacia of left knee from February 13, 2014 through March 31, 2015 for SMC purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left-knee osteochondritis and degenerative joint disease were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss of left testicle are granted effective July 2, 2010, the day following his separation from active service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board could make a decision on any of the issues raised.

The Board has determined that the September 2019 VA examination report is incomplete and requires additional medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus aggravates his right knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability was denied, and his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 18, 2020 and any rating in excess of 20 percent from that date onward were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities due to insufficient consideration of his reports of continuous symptoms since active duty service.