Knee decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a claim for a 10% rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic disability related to in-service activities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, except for the period from September 30, 2020. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding his GERD claim, right knee instability, and TDIU prior to September 30, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral hip, knee, and ankle conditions are remanded for further development to determine their etiology and whether they are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee disability and remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, as well as skin condition. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations and provide additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder. The issues include service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, with secondary or aggravation claims related to service-connected bilateral foot disability and/or ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to increased ratings for service-connected disabilities and the TDIU issue. Additional development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claim for a maximum 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage of the right knee is granted. The issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for painful limitation of motion associated with right knee chondromalacia and instability are remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent, and his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for painful joints and bilateral eye disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,Specifically, the VA examiner determined that the Veteran’s current joint pain and eye disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period between August 9, 2008 and December 18, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee laxity and DJD with semilunar cartilage disability are granted at a 20 percent rating. The Veteran's limited extension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding insufficient evidence to establish either a current disability or that any such disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the case for an updated VA examination to determine if range of motion testing was conducted in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has found that an increased rating of 60 percent is warranted effective December 10, 2019 for the Veteran's right knee disorder, status-post total knee replacement. The case is being remanded to obtain a retrospective opinion regarding the functional effects of flare-ups prior to December 10, 2019.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been granted a disability rating of 20 percent each, effective from the dates specified. The decision also resolved doubt in favor of the Veteran for these ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, low back, and lung disorders are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were not supported by evidence showing they occurred during his period of active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck disability and bilateral knee disabilities (including residuals of left and right meniscal tears). These claims were based on the absence of medical documentation linking current disabilities to his military service.