Knee decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding no evidence of current disability related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective September 10, 2015. The Veteran also received an increased TDIU rating.,Service connection for the Veteran's miscarriage and right knee disability are both granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to a new service department record that was not considered by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, right and left hip, and right and left knee disabilities. The claim for PTSD was denied.,A remand is required to address the Veteran's eye disability claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and knee conditions secondary to her service-connected low back IVDS are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 19, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings related to his right foot, left ear hearing loss, and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee iliotibial band syndrome and instability, as well as his right shoulder rotator cuff syndrome, have been granted increased ratings. The right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a combined 40 percent, with the rating split between instability (20%) and posttraumatic osteoarthritis (10%). The remaining 10% is for arthritis. This decision grants an increased rating but does not resolve all issues on appeal.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and PTSD, but denies these claims due to lack of a valid diagnosis of PTSD related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder, hands, and left knee, as well as the claims for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The appellant withdrew their appeal prior to the decision being finalized.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's contention that he filed an earlier claim. The Veteran and his representative submitted statements and email correspondence, but no formal or informal claim prior to October 23, 2015 was found.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for back and bilateral knee braces for 2012 due to missing documentation from his previous approvals in 2008, 2009, and 2011. The VAMC is required to obtain these records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and right wrist degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including meniscal symptoms and post-total knee replacement conditions, are rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran is granted a separate rating for meniscal impairment in both knees.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider evidence from July 2014 showing onset of a meniscus injury. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his right knee disability, which includes both patellofemoral syndrome and a meniscal injury.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, as his manifestations of any additional claimed acquired psychiatric disability are not clearly distinguishable from his service-connected PTSD. The appeal is remanded for further development on several orthopedic issues.