Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The right knee MCL laxity is denied.,TDIU benefits for service-connected disabilities are granted from October 7, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, finding that her current left knee disability did not begin during service or be related to an in-service injury. The Board also found no evidence of secondary service connection due to her service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and a meniscal tear, was found to have limited flexion and extension prior to August 9, 2016. The evidence did not support higher ratings based on these conditions.

The appeal is remanded for clarification of the Veteran's left knee disability ratings and to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his meniscal involvement, instability, and deformity.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, a compensable rating for rhinitis, service connection for sleep apnea (SA), and service connection for right knee disability due to new evidence received since the previous decisions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the left knee condition, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hand numbness and tingling. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 30 percent for his right and left total knee replacement disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's left knee instability and right knee instability were denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent prior to January 7, 2020. A separate evaluation of 20 percent for right knee dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain and effusion was granted.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis was denied a rating in excess of the current 10 percent prior to January 7, 2020. The left knee osteoarthritis was denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent prior to January 7, 2020 and from January 7, 2020 up to May 31, 2014.,The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to May 31, 2014 was denied. The Veteran's right knee instability and left knee osteoarthritis were remanded for further development after January 7, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, BPH, sleep apnea, and several other conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, as there is no evidence of current disability. Service connection for a right knee disorder and a left knee disorder was also denied due to lack of medical opinion on the etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but denied the claims for left knee disability, right foot ingrown toenails, and low back disability. The issues of service connection for right knee disability and left and right foot numbness are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted. The appeal for PTSD is dismissed. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to provide adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and right leg disability, including whether they are related to service or secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% disability rating from October 1, 2015 through December 13, 2018 and a TDIU prior to July 25, 2016. The Veteran's right knee disability had its ratings denied in excess of the assigned percentages.,The Veteran was granted an increased rating for PTSD from October 1, 2015 through December 13, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current evidence meeting VA criteria. The claims for residuals of a right fifth finger fracture, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 28, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee rheumatoid arthritis with degenerative arthritis and osteopenia status post arthroscopic surgery was found to not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran contends her symptoms began shortly after arriving at Midway Island, but a November 2020 examiner found no current diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and left tibia disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for an abdominal aortic aneurysm due to lack of recent medical evidence.