Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated 10 percent disabling, and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied.,Since April 15, 2017, the Veteran has received a separate 20 percent rating for his right knee meniscus tear.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for residuals of contusion, left knee with traumatic arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or arthritic changes involving two or more major joints. For TDIU, the Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities including malignant tumor and metastasis, but his 100% schedular rating for one disability rendered the issue moot.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The AOJ must obtain any missing medical records, including those from the Veteran's knee surgery, and provide a new VA examination to assess the severity of the knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right hand, left hand, and low back disabilities due to incomplete records. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee injury and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is required to obtain updated authorization and request emergency treatment records, schedule a new VA examination, and address these issues.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia with limitation of motion in flexion are granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. Separate 10 percent ratings for instability are also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and denied his claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to major depressive disorder. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to injuries sustained during active duty service, while the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his hypertension condition is related to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate development. The case is also intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of frostbite of the bilateral feet and right knee condition (to include arthritis) have been denied. The claim for service connection for a right foot bunionectomy has resulted in a rating increase to 10 percent.,New evidence was submitted to reopen the claims for right foot hammertoes and right foot plantar calluses, but not for residuals of frostbite of the bilateral feet or right knee condition (to include arthritis).,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot hammertoes is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion on direct service connection. The same applies to his claim for service connection for right foot plantar calluses.

The Veteran's disability ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, right knee osteoarthritis, right knee instability, and left knee osteoarthritis are being remanded for additional development. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the directives of its February 2018 remand and thus another remand is warranted for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee subluxation and right knee subluxation are granted with specific ratings, effective from August 7, 2013 to the respective dates noted.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) on both a schedular and an extraschedular basis from throughout the period of appeal.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's freestanding claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left knee arthritis and instability, as these issues were not properly perfected to appeal.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis and instability have been rated based on their current severity. The Board has found that the evidence does not support higher ratings prior to October 30, 2018.,For his right knee, a recent surgery was performed in June 2020, and an updated VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to December 4, 2017 and granted a 60 percent rating from February 1, 2019 for his total left knee joint arthroplasty.

The Board denied increased ratings for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were rated at 90 percent combined prior to December 5, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's right knee and left hip disabilities. The claims are being returned for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded his claims for increased ratings for right knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on limitation of flexion or painful motion. The claim for TDIU was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the criteria.