Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for residual scar, left knee and a higher than 10 percent rating for right lateral malleolus fracture have been dismissed due to the Veteran's satisfaction with his total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to February 6, 2018.

The Veteran's right knee pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent from October 7, 2014 to May 25, 2022 and at 20 percent thereafter. The rating for right knee extension remains at 10 percent since October 7, 2014. Right knee instability is rated at 10 percent from October 7, 2014 to May 24, 2022 and denied thereafter.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The decision is effective from the date of the remand.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability ratings for internal derangement of the right knee and total right knee replacement prior to May 10, 2022, and effective from May 10, 2022, respectively. The Board has dismissed these issues as a result.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes cavus and service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and left hip disorder are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shoulder injury is also remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.,No effective date was provided as this decision pertains to a remand, not a final determination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD and DJD, left lower extremity L5 radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder were denied. The appeal of the temporary total rating based on surgical convalescence following left hip replacement surgery was dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, hypertension, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 13, 2018 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ankle and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran contends his conditions were aggravated in service, but the VA examinations did not adequately consider this claim.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is denied as not related to service. For the lumbar spine, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 6, 2020 and from July 6, 2020 is also denied due to lack of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis. Right knee chondromalacia and left knee chondromalacia are each rated at the maximum allowable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions were denied effective dates prior to April 23, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for right and left knee disorders. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether there is a link between the current diagnoses of right and left knee strains and military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as VA records were not obtained and there are outstanding workers' compensation claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. The Board finds that the Veteran did not receive proper notification of his scheduled VA examinations, which were cancelled due to his absence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions began during active duty or were otherwise related to in-service events.,Service connection is not granted as there is no indication of chronic left knee disability or hypertension present during active duty. The Veteran’s current diagnoses are not shown to be causally related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues. The Veteran's claims for right and left arm/hand conditions, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, sleep apnea, and anemia are now before the RO for further review.

The Veteran's right and left total knee replacements have been granted a 60% evaluation since the effective dates of their respective surgeries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, bilateral knee, bilateral eye condition, and left ear hearing loss as they are related to service. The claims will be reviewed again with new evidence and opinions from VA examiners.