Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it is related to an in-service injury during ACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for reconsideration of the claim based on newly associated service department records submitted by the Veteran in December 2012, which included relevant STRs from March 1971.

The Veteran's left knee status post total knee replacement is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities based on limitation of flexion have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of flexion to less than 30 degrees in either knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, including his reported pain and stiffness. The claim will be reviewed again with further development.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent prior to March 11, 2019 and denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for her left knee, right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip disorders that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and bilateral knee disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is rated at a separate 10% rating from February 21, 2019, until February 3, 2020. A higher rating for the disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disability, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, left knee disability, right knee disability, vertigo, and hypothyroidism, all presumed to be related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims were remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain with Baker's cyst, finding that the minimum compensable rating most closely approximates her symptoms and average impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and vertigo, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service.,Service connection is also granted for vertigo, with the Board resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, left elbow, and right elbow disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee, low back, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine strain and left knee strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the left knee sprain, lumbar strain (prior to January 6, 2014), and lumbar strain (since December 23, 2020) did not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. Sleep apnea was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and left knee condition due to insufficient examination opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine the etiology of his current knee conditions, which may be related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in a VA examination report and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of January 1, 2014 for various disabilities including bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral calcaneal enthesopathy, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with arthritis, left elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, right elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The effective dates were granted based on the Veteran's original claim filed in July 2013.