Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and left hip strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has reinstated the Veteran's 30 percent disability rating for right knee with degenerative changes of the medial compartment as well as the medial and lateral menisci, effective March 1, 2013. The Board is restoring this rating.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as prostate condition (including as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange), finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathy and sciatica (claimed as left foot disability). The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, which resulted in a back injury requiring surgery.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and its relationship to service-connected pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand orders. The Veteran's left knee condition is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, TDIU prior to November 16, 2012, and ratings for bilateral lower extremities diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves. The Veteran's right knee disability was not related to his active service, and his diabetes-related disabilities did not render him unemployable or unable to work.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, including degenerative arthritis, due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating decisions which denied service connection for left knee polyarthralgia and right knee polyarthralgia. The TDIU claim is also dismissed. The dysthymic disorder rating is remanded due to a lack of recent examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her combined rating of 70% or more makes it at least as likely as not that she is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, and back pain due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability and GERD due to outstanding VA treatment records, updated employment information, and additional examinations. The Veteran's last VA examinations assessing his disabilities were in August 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, as well as for a rating in excess of 10 percent for DJD of the right and left knees due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraines is granted, and the case is remanded for further development regarding increased ratings for right knee disability, left knee disability, and cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shin splints, ankle disability, and knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The effective date for a 40% rating for tear of quadriceps femoris muscle, left thigh, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD prior to February 10, 2016 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not show occupational and social impairment warranting such a higher rating during this period.,The appeals for service connection for low back disorder, migraine headaches, and chest pains radiating to left arm were also REMANDED as additional development is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.