Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left total knee replacement and revision has been manifested by chronic severe painful motion or weakness of the left lower extremity, warranting a rating of 60 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her right knee disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 30 percent assigned for her total knee arthroplasty, and also noted that there was insufficient information to determine functional loss prior to September 19, 2014.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement has been rated at 60 percent since June 17, 2010. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for updated VA examinations. The issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are etiologically related to service and grants service connection for left and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee, PTSD, and degenerative disc disease L5-S1 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available for chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness. The Board also granted a separate 20 percent rating for moderate recurrent subluxation and lateral instability beginning April 24, 2017. For the period from January 31, 2011 to March 23, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating. The Veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from finding or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders. The appeal is now pending for further review.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left knee disability was denied, and the TDIU issue was also denied. The Veteran is currently working part-time with a salary above the poverty threshold.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a minimum compensable rating due to pain for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is granted for the period from August 20, 2008 to March 4, 2013. The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 29, 2015 for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the pending service connection claims. The issues of service connection for various conditions are also being considered.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected right knee condition. The Veteran also has a service-connected fractured left clavicle, claimed as a left shoulder condition, which the Board finds to be related to her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's recurrent acromioclavicular separation is service-connected as being proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's right knee lateral collateral ligament sprain and arthroscopic meniscectomy warrants a 20% rating for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion under Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and arthritis of the first metatarsal joints have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left leg condition has been reopened. The Board will now review the underlying claims for service connection de novo, based on the whole record. Additional medical examination is needed to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, right thigh, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral heel disabilities; and for an opinion on the issue of service connection for a left leg condition.