Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, GERD, and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 4, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as the previous opinions did not consider the Veteran's lay statements of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher rating due to the severity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss disability, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's claim for an initial 30 percent rating prior to September 20, 2016, for migraine headaches is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of service connection and rating for disabilities, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right knee disability were denied, with the exception of a grant of an increased rating to 20 percent from February 7, 2019. The Veteran was also granted TDIU status.

The Board has remanded two issues related to service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the right knee due to outstanding VA treatment records from 2013.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including service connection claims and evaluations of various disabilities. The effective date for the grant of service connection for right elbow epicondylitis (pronation) is denied.

The Board has found the evidence insufficient to adjudicate the Veteran's claims at this time and has remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and ankle disabilities, as well as psoriasis due to lack of STRs and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of TBI with headaches, left knee strain, right knee strain, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip and right knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The decision is based on medical opinions that suggest a leg length discrepancy may contribute to the Veteran's current hip and knee pain.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for a ventral hernia and residual abdominal surgical scarring associated with a ventral hernia, as well as his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, chest wall pain, a respiratory disorder, and a right hip disorder have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. From December 16, 2010, the Veteran is entitled to an initial 10 percent rating for his right knee chondromalacia.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right thumb, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's sexual dysfunction is not related to service, as there are no in-service complaints or diagnoses. The claim is denied.,There is insufficient evidence linking the bilateral knee disorder and arthritis to service. The claim is denied.,Hypertension is not linked to service. The claim is denied.,The chronic lower-GI disorder is also not related to service, with no in-service complaints or diagnoses noted. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee strain, as well as her claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to her combined disability rating of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including those related to service connection for various conditions. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for a left knee disability prior to September 11, 2019 is denied. The Veteran's post total knee replacement rating since November 1, 2020 is also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension has been granted. The low back disability remains rated at 40 percent prior to March 8, 2019, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim for service connection of a left knee condition was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.