Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee conditions, but the claims for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities, including a need for additional examinations and clarification of effective dates.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, which includes arthritis and total knee replacement. The decision is based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition and noting the Veteran's STRs were unremarkable for complaints referable to his right knee. The Board also found that there is no credible evidence linking any current right knee disability to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right knee condition and a left knee condition, both linked to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's right ankle and knee disabilities have been granted initial evaluations, with the right ankle receiving a 20% evaluation effective December 5, 2017. The right knee disability has received separate evaluations for different manifestations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right total knee replacements were denied as the clinical evidence did not reflect severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremities.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain prior to October 9, 2012 was denied because the medical evidence did not show forward flexion of less than 30 degrees or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement and right knee degenerative joint disease.,A compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied, as the Veteran's penis was not objectively examined to show penile deformity.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings for knee conditions due to incomplete examination findings and recent revisions to rating criteria.

The Veteran's asthma and panic disorder with agoraphobia features, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee chondromalacia, right shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy, and thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease are all being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee DJD is related to his time in service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection and evaluations related to the veteran's disabilities, as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's low back, left hip, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for limitation of flexion. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,PTSD prior to July 17, 2015 was rated at 50 percent and the claim for an increased rating remains denied.,PTSD from July 17, 2015 to February 10, 2020 was granted a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, TBI, and headaches have been denied. The Board has found no evidence of a current disability in these conditions.,For the right and left knee disabilities, the Veteran is being asked to provide additional medical evidence linking his current symptoms to service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the November 2020 VA examination. The Veteran's right and left knee disorders are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated at 20 percent each, and the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a back disorder, left knee disorders, right knee disorders, and hair bumps. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, lumbar spine, and psychiatric disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from April 18, 2007 to April 17, 2008.