Knee decisions — 2021

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for right knee injury is granted. The VA has been ordered to obtain the Veteran's complete updated records of VA treatment and authorize VA to obtain clinical records from private providers who have evaluated or treated him for cardiovascular disability and right knee disability, including those pertaining to his 2007 right partial knee replacement and subsequent recovery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disorders, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 29, 2007. The Board has granted an effective date of August 29, 2007 for his claim of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is related to an injury sustained during qualifying service in September 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, have precluded his employability since June 18, 1983. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 18, 1983 on an extraschedular basis and dismissed the claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for bilateral ear hearing loss, right hip condition, and left knee condition are inadequate. The claims must be remanded to obtain new opinions from appropriate VA examiners.

The Veteran's bilateral knee chondromalacia patella has been rated at 10 percent for each knee, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current range of motion findings.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for left knee conditions, leaving no issues remaining to be decided.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and granted increased ratings of 20 percent each for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, as well as initial 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability. The Veteran's appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and left ankle disorders, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's left knee disorder, including osteoarthritis, is being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Veteran's right knee subluxation and instability are denied a compensable rating from January 13, 2009 to July 12, 2016.,The Veteran's right knee disability prior to October 12, 2016 is rated at 10%.,The Veteran's right knee disability from October 12, 2016 to July 18, 2017 is rated at 30%.,The Veteran's right knee disability from July 18, 2017 to January 1, 2021 is rated at 40%.,The Veteran's right knee disability from January 1, 2021 to present is rated at 10%.,The Veteran's left knee disability prior to October 12, 2016 is rated at 10%,The Veteran's left knee disability from October 12, 2016 to January 1, 2021 is rated at 30%.,The Veteran's left knee disability from January 1, 2021 to present is rated at 10%

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as her service connection claims for a bilateral ankle condition (presumed due to Gulf War exposure) and left knee condition are all remanded for additional development.

The appeal pertaining to the application to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, left knee disorder, and respiratory disorder (sleep apnea) is dismissed. The claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee is granted.

The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, foot disability (claimed as blisters or blood poison), respiratory disability (COPD), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac/heart disability, right lower extremity PVD, left lower extremity PVD, right lower extremity DVT, left lower extremity DVT, embolism, cellulitis, right ulnar peripheral neuropathy, and left ulnar peripheral neuropathy have been granted. The claims for service connection for right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, back/spine disability, and left eye disability are still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Lyme disease, left knee disability, right knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder) have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's right hip disability is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disabilities and for adjudicating the TDIU claim in conjunction with the right hip disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee/leg disability, finding that his right knee osteoarthritis was not incurred in service and is not related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the current degenerative arthritis was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to incomplete records and need for a new VA examination.