Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 2, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as proximately due to his service-connected cerebrovascular accident (CVA) residuals. The issue of a higher rating for right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disability do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as he has experience in sedentary work such as teaching computer skills and medical assistant training.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of August 2, 2017.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis prior to December 11, 2014 was not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited flexion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as her flexion is limited to at most 105 degrees and extension remains full.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability (claimed as collapsed left lung), cardiovascular disability (claimed as high blood pressure and increased heart rate), right knee disability, left knee disability, left chest scar, and unspecified depressive disorder.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD and major depression, is granted with a rating in excess of 50 percent prior to June 25, 2019, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. Service connection for vertigo, TBI residuals, and left hip disorder are also granted. However, service connection for the left knee disorder remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee strain is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee meniscus degeneration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder on a secondary basis to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity following separation from active military service and attributing his current condition to post-service employment.

The Veteran's right knee medial-lateral instability is currently rated at 10 percent before March 15, 2018 and 20 percent thereafter. The claim for higher ratings is denied.,The Veteran's right knee DJD status post chondroplasty and meniscectomy is currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, including patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the conditions first manifested during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss as they are not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied as he does not have service-connected disabilities that warrant the use of qualifying knee braces or a wheelchair.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, bilateral ankle disability, left knee disability, and bronchitis. The decision also found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the November 1985 and September 1987 rating decisions denying these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee degenerative arthritis was denied, as his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.