Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,Both knees are currently rated as 20 percent disabling based on their respective diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in August 2020 were inadequate for adjudication purposes and these claims must be remanded again.

The Veteran's Bell's palsy was granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as high blood pressure secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 40% for the entire appeal period, with separate ratings of noncompensable for painful limitation of extension and 20% each for instability and locking/pain/effusion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disability and PTSD, as well as the eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to incomplete records. The Appellant's complete service personnel and treatment records need to be obtained from appropriate sources.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder has been reopened, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if his current symptoms are related to military service. The Veteran also needs VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and left wrist disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination of the Veteran's right knee, and a new examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy associated with degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (claimed as bilateral hip and thigh condition), and bilateral knee disability, all proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The issues are whether a higher rating is warranted and if a separate 40 percent rating should be assigned for patellofemoral pain syndrome, meniscal tear, and patellar realignment with limited extension.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of left knee instability and TDIU due to inadequate examination and incomplete application for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is caused or aggravated by her service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's initial rating for Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood has been granted at a 70 percent level, effective July 2011. Service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee disability have been remanded due to insufficient evidence, while service connection for acid reflux remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking the current right knee disorders to service or to his other disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including TBI, low back disability, knee and shoulder disabilities, nerve damage of upper extremities, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, chronic diarrhea, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran will need new examinations for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA examination findings and addressing the revised rating criteria for Diagnostic Code 5257. The AOJ should also obtain any outstanding VA medical records.

The Veteran's right ankle strain with achilles tendonitis of the right heel, chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, lipoma of the lower back, chondromalacia of the right knee, chondromalacia of the left knee, and corneal scar and endothelial pigmentation of the right eye have been granted effective January 1, 1996. The Veteran's claim for lateral collateral ligament strain of the left ankle was dismissed as moot. The Veteran's claim for achilles tendonitis of the left heel associated with left ankle disability is denied.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and has ordered another remand for further development due to deficiencies in the June 2020 VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to an unresolved claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a previous rating decision, which denied service connection for bilateral knee disability. The effective date issue is also being addressed.