Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case of service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were incurred during his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and polyarthralgia involving multiple joints, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 5, 2020. As of that date, his combined disability rating is 100 percent, which moots the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity since service or any severe injuries during service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated, and the case is remanded for a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his service-connected conditions, including back disorder, knee disorders, CAD, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further examination and evaluation regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected dermatitis, service connection for a low back disability, and service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 9411. For right shoulder and knee disabilities, the evidence showed no significant impairment warranting an increase beyond the current ratings. Service connection was denied for gastrointestinal and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were partially granted, with a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability and a remand for further development on the remaining issues. The lumbar spine disability claim was not addressed as it did not involve service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, was granted. Service connection for PTSD was denied. For the rating period from March 4, 2016 to December 7, 2016, a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was granted. For the rating period from December 7, 2016 forward, an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent is not possible as the Veteran is already at the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, which include coronary artery disease and diabetic retinopathy, making it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left carpal tunnel, bilateral leg disability, bilateral wrist disability, headaches, insomnia disorder, and bilateral knee disability have been remanded by the Board.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2010, for the award of service connection for right and left carpal tunnel has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot condition, left hip condition (previously denied as hip and knee condition, now claimed as bilateral hip condition), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected residuals of fracture fifth left toe.,Service connection was also denied for radiculopathy of the left and right knees as secondary to a lower back injury.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and assess the current severity of his right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a direct link to service or any other presumptive basis. The examiner concluded that the low back condition did not have its onset in service and is not related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for instability and flexion limitation of the left knee, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete consideration of his service-connected PTSD and potential aggravation by psychiatric medications.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, hip, and ankle disabilities due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including knee disorders and other health issues. The remand requires obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions and whether they are related to his active duty service.