Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a heart disability and TDIU were denied. The Board found the evidence against granting higher ratings for the knees due to limited flexion not meeting the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. Service connection for coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure was remanded. TDIU was also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities need to be re-evaluated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate prior VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. Service connection was denied for the left ankle disability due to lack of credible evidence linking an in-service injury.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for his right knee disability (arthritis and arthroplasty) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of her right knee condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current condition and her in-service injury. The examiner concluded that the appellant's current right knee condition is not related to her in-service knee injury.

The Board has granted initial compensable ratings for service-connected left and right knee disorders, but the issues of service connection for breathing disorder, neck disorder, and left elbow disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee RPS, and left knee RPS are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in November 2020. Additional VA examinations are required that comply with Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is denied for thoracolumbar spine disability, disability manifest by joint pain (shoulders and knees), and respiratory disability (lung problems) including pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient evidence in some areas, particularly regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of any right leg disability found during the period on appeal, including whether it is caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is reopened and the claims for service connection for a back disability, a heart disability, hypertension, and a temporary total evaluation for a left knee disability requiring convalescence are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus have been withdrawn.,Claims of service connection for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorder (to include depression), right foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left foot pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and bilateral eye disability (exotropia) have been dismissed due to lack of timely appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a pulmonary disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and low back conditions due to inadequate examinations. The matter is also remanded for a new examination regarding his sleep condition.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for headaches and service connection for a right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of prostrating attacks or chronic conditions related to these disabilities, leading to denial.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee internal derangement is denied as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's left and right knees were granted separate 10% ratings for instability, but a higher rating was denied due to limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and scheduling a VA knee conditions examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his secondary service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, left shoulder, bilateral hips, bilateral thighs, partial loss of use lower extremities, right upper extremity radicular pain, and femoral radicular pain.