Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral knee condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for an examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, bilateral knee disorder, and right foot disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain missing records from March 1980 and to provide an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and origin of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a retrospective VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's current disability levels and functional loss from 1979 to present. The issues include increased ratings for low back syndrome, postoperative reconstruction of the left knee, chondromalacia of the right knee, and limitation of extension of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU due to inadequate examination findings. The case is returned for further action, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective January 25, 2016. The rating for instability of the left knee was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability and clarification regarding his meniscal condition. The TDIU claim is also referred to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia patella, status post reconstruction, does not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee is denied as there is no evidence of limitation of extension beyond 20 degrees or compensable flexion.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and 10 percent for meniscal symptoms. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or fewer, nor extension limited.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his right knee conditions have been denied. The VA has assigned various disability ratings based on the severity of his symptoms, but these ratings do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.,Service connection was also denied for gastritis, GERD, skin condition, and thyroid condition as there is no medical evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left knee brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, which is a service-connected disability. The Board granted the clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and left knee conditions are rated, but her mental health disorders require further examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

Your claims for service connection of left hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been granted in a December 2020 rating decision. The Board has dismissed your appeals for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current disability and service. The appeal was also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the right ear hearing loss. The left knee disorder is denied as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating. The Board finds that referral to the Director of Compensation Service is denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee disability status post replacement from December 1, 2018. The issues of increased ratings for right knee instability and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage from November 1, 2016 to October 16, 2017 are still pending.