Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The claims for a bilateral ankle condition and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disabilities and TDIU due to an inadequate examination report in January 2020, which did not account for the Veteran's history of recurrent subluxation and instability. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's eligibility for VA educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is granted due to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, which led to his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability were reopened. However, the Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, eye disability, general arthralgia, right ankle disability, and right knee disability due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for right and left knee scars have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient information regarding additional functional loss or limitation of motion experienced during flare-ups of pain.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to higher initial ratings for a right knee disability and a lumbar spine/back disability. The Veteran needs further examinations to determine the current level of impairment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee strain with osteoarthritis was rated at 10 percent, right knee synovitis with chondromalacia of patella at 10 percent, and the bilateral hearing loss at a compensable rating prior to December 2, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and scoliosis, right knee strain, and left knee strain and torn ligament are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as meniscus tear and subluxation, is granted a 20% rating effective July 29, 2016. Separate ratings are assigned for limitation of flexion (10%), limitation of extension (10%) between August 13, 2015 through May 10, 2019, and post-surgical scar pain (non-compensable).

The Veteran's combined disability ratings for service-connected disabilities are higher than the rate payable for nonservice-connection pension, making the claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits moot and dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, lumbar spine disability, and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by events during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left leg/calf disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right knee and right hip disabilities, so the Board dismissed these claims.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal, respiratory, psychiatric, hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine, shoulder, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, including tendinitis/tendinosis and arthritis. The Veteran reported pain in his knees during basic training, which he attributed to repetitive running and pounding.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's left shoulder disability (bicipital tendonitis). The Board found insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating prior to July 30, 2014, and his bilateral pes planus alone does not qualify him for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, reproductive disorder, headache disorder, back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, sciatica/radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and sciatica/radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Service connection was also granted for IBS and GERD as qualifying chronic disabilities due to the Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf War.