Knee decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and foot disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to back and knee braces were denied as the evidence did not show that the braces caused abnormal wear and tear on his clothing.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of examination for the left knee total knee replacement and because an increased rating could significantly impact the decision on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 1, 2017.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and tinnitus are granted. The claim for service connection for left knee disorder, frostbite of bilateral lower extremities, including a right toe is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for the period from February 14, 2013 to February 10, 2016. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on limitation of motion. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.

Service connection is granted for right knee condition, gout, and right ear hearing loss. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The initial ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and left knee disability are denied.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the current conditions are not causally related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic urticaria with anaphylaxis and right knee disability due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran needs a new examination to assess her treatment history and etiology of her conditions, as well as a determination on service connection.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from December 16, 2008 to May 4, 2016 due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee and bilateral hip disabilities, both of which are also claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, right-hand and left-hand peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and bilateral pes planus. The claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being reviewed again for proper consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and missing private treatment records, as well as changes in VA rating criteria.