Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service or any presumed exposure events. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current ankle and foot conditions are not related to his active service, and arthritis is not shown to be related to his service. The right knee condition and gastrointestinal condition (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) need further examination.,Further medical opinions are needed regarding whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus have been granted. The remaining issues of back condition, GERD, sinus condition, respiratory condition, and scars are remanded due to the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee instability, status post ACL repair/medial hemiarthroplasty with antalgic gait, and right knee medial meniscus tear due to insufficient development of evidence regarding range of motion during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as hypertension. The remand is due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for right knee conditions were denied. The Board found that the earliest evidence of these conditions was not prior to the date of his supplemental claim, and thus no earlier effective dates could be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU from December 18, 2018. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 18, 2018 is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease, and no indication that the current disability may be related to service.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a right ankle disorder, but has remanded both issues due to new evidence received after the initial denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic headaches and migraines are not related to her service, and therefore, denied service connection for these conditions. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability and back disability have been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, a left knee disorder, and bilateral flat feet were denied. Bilateral flat feet was granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for an updated examination following his upcoming right knee total replacement surgery.,The Veteran's appeal remains on hold as the RO seeks to obtain additional relevant medical records, including those from private treatment providers and VA. The Veteran should be provided with a post-surgery examination if he reports that the surgery has been cancelled.,The Veteran is granted an extraschedular TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability in the right ear, and left ear hearing loss was rated at 0 percent. Hypertension, GERD, cervical spine degenerative joints with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine herniated nucleus pulpous with radiculitis down posterior leg, right knee effusion/degenerative changes, left knee degenerative changes, and OSA were not granted increased ratings or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee, and left hip disability as they are not related to active duty service.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the service-connected right knee disability, effective from July 22, 2014. The left knee disability remains at a 10% rating.

The Veteran's left knee ligamentous strain and DJD were granted a 10 percent rating from September 6, 2013, but no earlier. The issues of increased ratings for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability are also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle arthralgia are each rated at 10 percent. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or instability that would warrant a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for right knee instability from January 24, 2015, to May 20, 2015.