Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257, which pertains to residuals of a total knee replacement. The Board has determined that the appropriate rating for his disability should be assigned under Diagnostic Code 5055, reflecting intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left elbow disabilities, thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities, right knee disability (other than Osgood-Schlatter's disease), left knee disability (other than Osgood-Schlatter's disease), and compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 for an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee is granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective March 15, 2021.,For the period prior to January 2, 2020, the Veteran's limitation of flexion of the left knee is granted a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease, left knee strain, and right knee strain, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of June 19, 2010. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome due to issues with the adequacy of the VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the claim for a bilateral knee disability due to additional evidence being submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left and right knee conditions has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for knee disabilities and TDIU due to new evidence indicating worsening of his left and right knee conditions. A new VA examination is required, and the TDIU claim must be developed further.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues with the examination and duty to assist, and will need to provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 10 percent each. The low back disability has also been granted an increased rating to 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining National Guard records and SSA disability benefits application records.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for right knee, back, and left knee disorders are reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. However, the issues of service connection for these conditions remain pending as they have not yet been fully adjudicated.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the service-connected fracture of the right clavicle and left knee internal derangement, with no new evidence provided to reopen the claims. The Veteran's service-connected conditions were evaluated based on their current manifestations.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The examiner did not provide sufficient information regarding the severity and manifestations of the condition during flare-ups or repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, GERD, bilateral leg disability (claimed as a gait condition), right shoulder disability, bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, lower back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to their potential secondary relationship with her service-connected PTSD.

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The Veteran's right knee disability is characterized by severe painful motion and weakness. The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the period from March 9, 2015 to August 15, 2016. However, his claim for higher ratings beyond this period remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, dismissed the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to September 13, 2018 and entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 13, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the right knee, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not related to any in-service injury. The Veteran's current DJD was diagnosed many years after service and there is no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service event.