Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current right knee disorders are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives regarding his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities. The VA needs to schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and instability. The claim for an increased rating has been granted, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on more severe limitations or symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for musculoskeletal disabilities of the right leg and right arm due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The issues have been recharacterized as all diagnosed musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disability and left knee disability, as secondary to service-connected low back degenerative arthritis. The claims will be reviewed with additional medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions in service or their relationship to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations, and now requests additional private medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 20 percent, effective June 21, 2016. The PTSD rating remains unchanged at 50 percent since February 27, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of clarification on the scope of the Veteran's claim and failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that more development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as his service connection claims for lower extremity disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee condition and bilateral hearing loss. The examiner must provide an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran’s current conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee conditions prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to February 3, 2009. The Board granted entitlement to an extraschedular (ES) total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, as well as to schedule VA examinations. The effective date of the award of service connection is denied.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated based on their respective limitations of motion, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to its more severe symptoms. The appeals for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of extension and lateral instability, has been rated at 20 percent since July 12, 2013. The TDIU claim is granted effective from July 12, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding secondary service connection for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, and the Board finds no basis for a compensable rating.,Service connection for the low back disability and right knee condition are denied due to lack of evidence showing aggravation beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding causation and aggravation of the Veteran's right knee condition by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including neck, hip, leg, knee, and ankle conditions. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.