Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's left ankle synovitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left knee conditions was denied. He is currently rated at 10% for limitation of flexion and 10% for instability, with no higher rating allowed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder arthritis and right total knee replacement have been granted service connection, with a 60% disability rating for the right knee effective April 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for individual unemployability was denied due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to evidence indicating worsening symptoms. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left ankle instability, status-post stabilization surgery. A disability rating of 10 percent for the left knee disability is granted from April 1, 2021. Service connection for a closed head injury is granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a separate rating for left knee instability due to lack of evidence of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The right knee osteoarthritis, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound, and TDIU claims are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service injury and concluding that any such injury would not have led to long-term complications.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the lack of legible documents and recent medical records. The Board will review these new pieces of evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of clear opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his knee, low back, and right hip disabilities. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination conducted in July 2019.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating from July 28, 2010 to July 24, 2020. Ratings in excess of 40% for the back disability and ratings in excess of 10% for both knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and a right knee disability, renders him unemployable due to significant symptoms that preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected left knee strain and chondromalacia, right knee instability, right knee strain and chondromalacia, and left knee instability due to inadequate VA medical examinations and other procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with its previous directives, specifically regarding imaging studies of the Veteran's right knee. The claim remains on appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for subpatellar chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded the issues regarding degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and left knee lateral meniscectomy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.