Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right foot strain and left and right knee strains with shin splints are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence of secondary service connection due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee chondromalacia patella due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained and reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for anxiety disorder on/after February 27, 2017 was denied as the severity of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability prior to September 24, 2020 was also denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities that rendered him capable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was denied service connection as it did not manifest in service and is not attributable to service.,Service connection for meniscal tear, osteoarthritis, and chondromalacia of the right knee was denied. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that this condition manifested during or within one year after service and is not related to service.,The Veteran's meniscal tear and osteoarthritis of the left knee were also denied as there is no evidence showing they manifested in service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his right knee replacement and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent from October 1, 2018 to August 12, 2020. The hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further evaluation of the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for left leg hypesthesia associated with the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, but denied an increased rating for his left knee disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal of several service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability due to inadequate examination in determining whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed left knee disability has been aggravated beyond its natural progression by the Veteran's service connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including left foot, right foot, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's weight gain or obesity is being evaluated as a potential intermediate step between his service-connected right knee disability and his current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period from August 1, 2007 to May 25, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to his use of left knee and left ankle braces in 2015, finding that neither brace caused wear and tear on his clothing as required by VA regulations.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from a July 1993 left total hip replacement (THR) due to lack of evidence showing negligence or informed consent, as the leg-length discrepancy was considered a normal and expected outcome of the procedure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left leg fibula fracture and left knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral syndrome have been denied. The current ratings are deemed appropriate.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability as secondary to pes planus. The claim is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right knee condition was found not to be caused by his service-connected pes planus, and it is also not aggravated by pes planus beyond its natural progression.,The Veteran's left knee condition has not been evaluated in this decision as the issue remains pending.