Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left hip disorders due to a lack of evidence of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable, and the Board granted a TDIU for the period from February 20, 2008 until July 15, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence added to the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is at least as likely as not incurred in service and is related to an injury therein. Service connection for a right knee disability is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for common peroneal nerve palsy of the right lower extremity was denied. The claims for service connection for a right leg disorder and left leg disorder were also denied as there is no current diagnosed condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee, left ankle, and low back conditions are remanded due to lack of medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of all evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, as well as a left knee disability, are remanded due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The Veteran testified that his symptoms have persisted since service despite not seeking treatment regularly.

The Board denied service connection for low middle back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The evidence did not show an in-service injury or disease that led to the current disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing a fall during active duty in 1981 caused the Veteran's current back and knee conditions.

The Veteran's headaches started during service and continued until his death. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's headaches had their onset in service, and grants service connection for headaches.,Regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder), the Board notes there are several diagnoses present. Adequate opinions have not been obtained that separately address each theory of entitlement and psychiatric disorder that the Veteran was diagnosed with during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, PTSD, and ED, have been granted. The decision also remands several other issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several conditions have been dismissed.,The claims for service connection for right knee arthritis and hearing loss of the left ear have been reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development as the Board finds that a higher evaluation than 60 percent for his service-connected right knee disability on or after March 1, 2019, is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because the evidence did not show that the September 2013 total right knee replacement with removal of hardware caused an additional disability due to VA's negligence or a not reasonably foreseeable event.

The claims for service connection related to tinnitus, right knee condition, sleep deprivation, low back condition, heart condition, and stomach condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and his right and left knee limitations of flexion are granted with increased ratings. Right and left knee instability are also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for hip and knee disabilities due to incomplete records, inadequate VA examinations, and failure to address certain criteria in the rating criteria.