Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee instability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to ongoing issues with knee instability. The case is being returned for further examination and development of records.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral knee disability and asthma, which renders him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. He is also granted SMC at the (s) rate based on being 'statutorily housebound'.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder, hip, knee and hand/finger disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee DJD status post meniscectomy, as well as right and left hip DJD, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The VA examiners determined that the current DJD of the bilateral knees and hips were not caused or aggravated by the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted a schedular TDIU effective July 26, 2014.,However, the evidence indicates that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may have prevented obtaining and/or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to this date. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU is therefore remanded for referral to the Director of the Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder impingement syndrome and postoperative meniscectomy of the left knee with arthritis due to additional VA medical evidence being associated with his claim file.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee contusion with DJD, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher disability rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's initial 60 percent rating for Meniere's disease is granted effective prior to December 19, 2019.,An initial 30 percent rating for GERD is granted effective December 19, 2019. The Veteran’s service-connected left knee strain receives an initial 20 percent rating effective the same date. An initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and inguinal hernia status-post surgical repair are denied.,The Veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease is manifested by hearing impairment with vertigo more than once weekly, warranting a 60 percent rating prior to December 19, 2019. GERD symptoms include persistently recurrent epigastric distress, reflux, regurgitation, substernal pain, and nausea, leading to a 30 percent rating effective December 19, 2019.,Left knee strain is manifested by frequent episodes of joint locking and joint pain, resulting in a 20 percent rating effective December 19, 2019. Allergic rhinitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it does not result in greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides.,The Veteran's inguinal hernia is not manifested by any compensable disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, bilateral eye disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with these service connection issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his service-connected knee disabilities. The evidence did not show that he required nursing home care, regular aid and attendance of another person, or was permanently housebound.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 10 percent for residuals, postoperative medial meniscectomy of the left knee with degenerative changes from October 9, 2002, and greater than 20 percent from July 2, 2015, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the lack of examination addressing functional impacts on employment responsibilities. The right knee disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were granted initial ratings of 30 percent for instability, effective May 6, 2013. The rating for limitation of motion was denied.

The Board has restored the original ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and instability, finding that there was no evidence of improvement to warrant a reduction.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of chronic right knee condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between the current right knee disability and any service-connected conditions. Service connection for left hip disability is remanded due to duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective since August 1997. The claim for a higher rating was denied.,The initial noncompensable rating for the left anterior knee scar remains unchanged.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for additional evidence, specifically a new VA examination of the Veteran's right knee.