Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 29, 2011 due to conflicting ratings and requirements for total disability.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of onset in service or within one year of discharge. The examiner diagnosed bilateral knee tendonitis/tendinosis and arthritis, but the Veteran's service records did not show any history of knee issues.,Secondary service connection was also denied as there is no competent evidence showing that the current right and left knee disabilities are related to her service-connected hallux valgus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's right knee disability during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for chronic synovitis of the left knee was denied as his disability is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for addendum medical opinions regarding his claimed lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart conditions, right shoulder disability, and left knee disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee condition and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to incomplete examination reports and conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it. The claims for service connection of his feet, ankles, and knees disabilities are remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right elbow, right ankle, and right knee disorders due to a lack of sufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current symptoms are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various knee, shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's assertions regarding her in-service experiences need to be considered.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for myopia due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service connection of a left knee disability, which was granted in June 2016. The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need to obtain outstanding service treatment records related to his knee problems during ROTC.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for his right knee disabilities have been granted, with a specific 20 percent rating assigned for right knee instability effective February 7, 2021.

The Veteran's right knee residuals status post total knee replacement resulted in a preexisting condition being aggravated by VA medical treatment, warranting an effective date of January 10, 2011 for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for allergies, chest pains, headaches, sleep problems, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability.,New evidence includes VA treatment records indicating diagnoses such as insomnia, anxiety, migraines, adjustment disorder with depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's history of service-related symptoms is also relevant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and depression, tinnitus, bilateral foot disorders, left knee disorder, bilateral sciatic nerve disorders, and sinusitis, have all been denied. The Board found no current disability associated with the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and bilateral knee osteoarthritis have been granted. However, the claim for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD limitation of flexion and extension were denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for left knee arthritis and TDIU prior to April 7, 2020 are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence.