Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran is granted a separate rating of 20 percent for right knee meniscal tear and a separate rating of 10 percent for right knee instability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor.,The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran is granted a separate rating of 20 percent for left knee meniscal tear and a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been granted.,However, the right carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow/back issues are remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee condition was aggravated by her service-connected right knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran's back pain was not related to his in-service injury.,There is no evidence of any relevant condition in the Veteran’s service records or post-service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted post-remand in October 2019 was inadequate and requires an addendum opinion to consider additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a right elbow disorder, including ulnar neuropathy. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing chronic conditions in service or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for subpatellar chondromalacia, right knee with scar due to procedural deficiencies in the November 2020 VA examination. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, including left elbow disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, memory loss associated with major depressive disorder, peripheral vestibular disability, left knee scar, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory, elbow, shoulder, and knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was granted, with a 60 percent rating for left knee disability (including limitation of motion and instability) effective from February 3, 2015. The previous claims were denied.

The Veteran's right knee is granted a 20% rating effective September 9, 2019.,A higher rating for the right knee limitation of motion is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative changes of the cervical spine, left knee DJD and meniscal tear, right knee DJD and meniscal tear, and lumbar spine DJD, did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment at any time throughout the period of appeal. The Board denied his claim for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, additional private medical records, and VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been granted a separate 20 percent rating for a repaired meniscal tear with frequent joint pain, locking, and effusion. His left knee disability remains at a non-compensable rating due to lack of compensable loss in range of motion. The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 70 percent disabling effective from August 6, 2020. TDIU has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for bipolar disorder, right knee chondromalacia, and vertigo due to lack of recent VA treatment records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran needs new examinations to assess her current disability levels.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for IVDS, left knee strain, and hypertension due to service connection. The claims will be reviewed with new examinations and additional medical opinions provided.

The Board has ordered remand due to additional development being required for the Veteran's left knee disabilities, specifically instability and limitation of flexion. The case will be reviewed under both old and new rating criteria.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. Increased ratings are granted for left and right knee disabilities, with a total rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD also being granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities due to further development being necessary.