Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and meniscus impairment, is rated at 10 percent. The separate ratings for limitation of extension, instability, and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage are also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left elbow, back, and right knee disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of new private treatment records and requests for an opinion regarding his right hip and knee disorders. The VA will obtain updated medical records, schedule a VA examination, and provide opinions on the severity of his right ankle disability and whether he has any related right hip or knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for updated VA treatment records and examinations. The Veteran's right knee disability is not related to service, but may be aggravated by his lumbar spine disability. The left knee disability is secondary to the right knee disability. The rating for DJD/DDD lumbar spine needs clarification due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, effective from October 2022. The Veteran's condition is characterized by limitation of extension to 30 degrees during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and requests a retrospective opinion related to the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability for the period prior to September 11, 2018.

Service connection is granted for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis.,Service connection is denied for gastrointestinal disability. The Veteran's achalasia was not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for VA medical opinions regarding continuity of symptoms and etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip and knee disabilities due to inadequate previous examinations. The Veteran was also asked if he wishes to withdraw appeals on certain issues.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity and cubital tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity are not considered secondary to service-connected lymphatic lymphoma.,Service connection for DJD of the left knee is granted as it is caused by service-connected lymphatic lymphoma. Service connection for osteoarthritis of the left elbow is also granted under the same reasoning.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development, specifically a need for a new examination of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity disabilities are found to have caused his current left hip and left knee disabilities, which are granted as secondary to the service-connected conditions. The issue of TDIU is dismissed due to the effective date already being assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent for limitation of flexion. The Board has granted this rating effective August 24, 2015. However, the issue of a higher or separate compensable rating for other aspects of the left knee disability remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating of his right knee arthritis has been remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous examination. A new VA examination by an orthopedist is required.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7101.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee is rated at 40 percent, with no higher rating available based on flexion limitation. The Veteran has other service-connected conditions that prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is rated as 30 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating permitted for limitation of flexion of the leg.,The criteria for a higher disability rating are not met for the period after January 27, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the criteria for TDIU have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion, but granted a 20 percent rating for semilunar cartilage dislocation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right shoulder and knee conditions, depressive disorder, and lumbosacral strain, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 31, 2015. The Board denied the temporary total evaluation for the right shoulder disability and granted TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.