Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities, finding that these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee replacement has been granted a 60 percent rating effective November 12, 2019.,A 60 percent rating for total left knee replacement (previously rated as left knee strain) is granted from December 1, 2019.,The Veteran's right knee scar was initially rated at 10 percent and has been remanded to determine if a higher initial rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability due to issues with the adequacy of the reasons and bases provided in the decision. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeals of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, gastrointestinal condition (hiatal hernia and acid reflux), arthritis of the upper extremities, and left ankle condition have been dismissed as moot due to the grant of these conditions in a prior rating decision. The appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been dismissed.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for various disabilities, finding that the claims were not filed before June 14, 2016.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to January 25, 2021.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis were not incurred in or aggravated by active-duty service. Headache disability was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for left knee and right ankle disabilities was denied. A separate 20 percent disability rating was granted for torn medial and lateral menisci in the left knee. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the current schedular evaluations do not meet his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right and left knee disorders, including considering the Veteran's service history and post-service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee osteoarthritis under DC 5257 and for left knee osteoarthritis based on painful motion due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his left knee condition, specifically related to instability and potential separate ratings for limitation of flexion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional evidence and an examination of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and left ear hearing loss disability, but remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right thumb injury, a right wrist disability, and a left knee disability. The decisions are based on the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and current diagnoses.

The Veteran's right knee strain limitation of extension with hamstring tendonitis is rated at 30 percent from August 15, 2022.,The Veteran's right knee strain instability with hamstring tendonitis was rated at 20 percent from January 16, 2020, to August 15, 2022, and at 30 percent from August 15, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of September 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to a lack of treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.