Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate for adjudicative purposes, and thus remanded this matter for the issuance of an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for a TDIU from December 10, 2020. The Board remanded the matter of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's right knee disability was previously rated at 10% and increased to 20% in February 2020. The appeal is denied as the current evaluations do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation of his OSA/asthma, left knee disabilities (flexion), instability, and limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, low back disability, radiculopathy, knee disabilities, and right knee scar. The specific issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions as of May 29, 2018, and prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and his preponderance of evidence is against a finding that they were of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left knee iliotibial band disability syndrome and right foot plantar fasciitis have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions prior to April 4, 2013 prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment consistent with his educational background and employment history.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot disabilities. A temporary total evaluation is also granted for her service-connected left foot disability requiring convalescence, effective January 11, 2016.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent from June 12, 2014. The Veteran's left knee strain and limitation of extension are denied increased ratings. The Veteran's left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis is granted a disability rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and rating considerations due to the need for clarification of his knee disabilities, including inconsistencies in previous examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent from November 1, 2014 to January 28, 2016. The Board has remanded the issues of evaluating his service-connected left trigeminal nerve neuralgia and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee and foot disabilities. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed knee and hip disabilities as there is no evidence that they are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to service, either directly or secondary to a pre-existing condition. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hand and left knee conditions due to incomplete development of records, including SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's left hand condition may be caused or aggravated by his right hand condition, but further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and incomplete development. The issues include right ankle, left knee, skin condition (Agent Orange exposure), and headaches.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of spinal stenosis and denied his claims for increased ratings for right knee disability and migraine headaches. The decision also noted that the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding spinal stenosis.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions including right knee injury, heart disease, reflux, PTSD, diabetes type II, neck injury, and hypertension as there was no evidence of a current disability or a nexus to service.