Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to potential pre-existing nature of the Osgood Schlatter Disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran contends his current disabilities are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating from April 11, 2014 to October 15, 2018. Her lumbar spine disability was also granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include Reiter’s syndrome, low back disability, bilateral knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee conditions are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for left knee disability is remanded due to the failure to obtain a VA examination following a one-year total convalescent rating and in light of a proposed second total knee replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for further development. The Board will consider both old and new rating criteria, with the more favorable one applied.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities have been denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to October 5, 2020 has also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected right knee and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a right knee condition, including a total knee replacement, due to an unclear opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his complaints of pain during service. The examiner should assume that the Veteran’s health was sound upon entrance into service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20% prior to April 5, 2019 and denied for a higher rating. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability (secondary to lumbar spine) and neurological disorder of bilateral upper extremities (carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee should be remanded for further evaluation and a new medical opinion to determine if it is aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of a greater than 10 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, but the issues of service connection for back disability and major depressive disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back disability, neck disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and nasal disability (deviated septum) due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA examiner will provide opinions on whether these disabilities are related to service or aggravated by any period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown during active service or within one year of separation. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for hypertension prior to December 31, 2015 and service connection for hepatitis B has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board acknowledges the Veteran’s in-service noise exposure but notes that his hearing was within normal limits while in service and inconsistent reports of tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are more closely approximated by the current 20 percent disability rating.