Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the March 2002 rating decision that assigned a 10 percent rating for the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including painful motion of the cervical spine, right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle associated with undiagnosed illness, have been granted effective April 23, 2007.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for an award of TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which include post-concussion syndrome with headaches, degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain, tinnitus, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and radiculopathy of the right leg. The combined disability rating is 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted between September 1, 2014 and December 23, 2019. The left knee total arthroplasty was rated at 60 percent, while the right hip disability remained at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to unemployability prior to November 20, 2003. The claims are being remanded to obtain missing treatment records and to determine if the Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted increased ratings for limited flexion of the right and left knees, with a rating of 20 percent each as of January 20, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and inconsistencies in the Veteran's medical records regarding his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including new examinations and consideration of updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, an initial compensable rating for his left knee scar, and an increased rating for his left knee disability due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and instability were denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee pain, left knee pain, and neck pain. The VA examiners' opinions were inadequate as they did not address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injury. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service.

The VA has ordered the remand of three cases related to a veteran's knee conditions. The first case involves right knee meniscectomy residuals before January 13, 2009; the second concerns right total knee arthroplasty residuals from March 1, 2010, to February 28, 2017; and the third is for right total knee arthroplasty residuals as of March 1, 2017. The VA needs to obtain all outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and new evidence submitted within one year of the July 2013 rating decision. The Veteran is expected to attend VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with healed tibia stress fracture, as well as his initial ratings for left and right knee subluxation, have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by repetitive trauma incurred during his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's knee disabilities and TDIU, including evaluations for right and left knee conditions prior to specific dates, as well as evaluations for total knee replacements. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to potential unemployment caused by these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on his hearing loss claim and right knee disability. The Board finds that the effective date of service connection should be July 20, 1968, but no earlier, due to a deficiency in the 1969 decision notice. For his right knee disability, a separate 20 percent rating is granted for meniscectomy residuals from October 26, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes and remanded the issues of increased ratings for skin condition and knee disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as other disability ratings. The VA is instructed to obtain medical records and provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disorders.