Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's sinusitis, GERD, and knee disabilities are found to have onset during service. Service connection is granted for sinusitis. The issues of service connection for GERD, hypertension, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination for his left knee disability, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The initial rating claim for the right knee disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee condition and a lower back condition due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to in-service injury during inactive duty training. Additional development is needed, including a supplemental VA opinion to address whether the current knee disabilities are related to the in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examinations, lack of recent VA treatment records, and need for additional development including SSA records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 10% for limitation of flexion. He also has a separate 10% rating for instability since March 25, 2008.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and granted a 10 percent rating for instability/subluxation from January 31, 2011 to May 11, 2021. The Board denied higher ratings for the right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion.,PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 12, 2013. The Board concludes that PTSD warrants an initial rating of 50 percent prior to October 23, 2020 and denied the claim for a higher rating beginning October 23, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral knee disorder, muscle pain in the lower extremities, and respiratory disorder (to include CFS) are being remanded due to new evidence received since the final denial of these claims.,New evidence includes updated stressor statements and VA examination reports that support the Veteran's assertions regarding her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified reaction to severe stress and depression, is granted as service connected. The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied due to lack of verified in-service stressor. Service connection for a right knee disorder is denied because the preexisting condition did not worsen during service. Service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability and CAD, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active military service. The issue of Gulf War Syndrome is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his bilateral knee conditions and associated disabilities, finding that none of his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board also found no evidence of unemployability due to these disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee and right foot disabilities, finding that an addendum VA opinion is necessary to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is related to his service-connected residuals of a previous right knee injury. The Board has granted temporary and permanent ratings for the right knee disability based on the nature of the surgery.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new VA records added after the last SSOC.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected due to symptoms beginning during service and continuing since separation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including whether a separate rating under DC 5257 is warranted. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee instability, which may be related to his service-connected residuals of a stress fracture of the distal left femur or other conditions. The case will be remanded for further examination and review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disorder is granted. The claims of increased ratings for arthrosis post left knee medial meniscus tear, lumbar degenerative disc disease with left sciatica, and left lumbar radiculopathy are remanded. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded. His claim of an increased rating for anxiety, NOS is remanded as well. Finally, his TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for limitation of motion and a separate 20 percent rating for episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.,A separate rating for dizziness and sleepiness resulting from the left knee disability is being remanded.