Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left knee disability, including the residuals of a previous meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent for painful motion and limited extension. The Board found that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms without warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee, left knee, and right hip disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The case will be returned for further evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including arthritis and as secondary to his service-connected right knee instability with degenerative joint disease. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or manifestation of arthritis within one year following discharge.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings was denied. The Board upheld the denial of higher initial ratings for various disabilities, including arthritis and sarcoid arthropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for service connection were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to service, and the Board found no current diagnoses or established continuity of symptoms.

The Board has found that further VA evaluations are needed for the Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities due to unclear functional loss assessments in previous examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with other claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right foot condition and remanded it. The Veteran's bilateral knee condition is also remanded as it may be related to his right foot condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for the period prior to March 28, 2016 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent beginning March 28, 2016. PTSD symptoms are rated as total occupational and social impairment since March 26, 2016. OSA severity results in the use of a breathing assistance device but does not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee DJD with instability, pain, and frequent locking is granted a 20% rating from June 1, 2010 to January 30, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee strains are currently rated at 10% each, effective April 8, 2011. The Board found that the current ratings do not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to limitations in range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as erectile dysfunction due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim prior to September 21, 2016. The AOJ is instructed to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) with respect to these matters.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current knee disabilities may be related to repeated impacts from parachuting in service, while his acquired psychiatric disorder is not clearly linked to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of September 15, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD, left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased evaluations for actinic keratosis and eczema, as well as surgical scars of the right and left knees.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease and instability are rated separately, with the instability receiving a separate rating effective from March 31, 2014.