Knee decisions — 2021

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, is granted.,Service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee were denied as he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without showing good cause.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased initial ratings for his right and left knee conditions, including degenerative joint disease. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as not meeting VA disability criteria.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection. From October 26, 2013, a disability rating of 20 percent for the right knee condition is granted. Prior to September 17, 2020, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Osgood-Schlatter’s disease of the right knee is being remanded due to insufficient medical examination and unclear differentiation between service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence of worsening hearing loss, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 50 percent, effective July 11, 2014. The right hip limitation of extension and right femur fracture residuals are each granted separate noncompensable ratings as of April 14, 2018. Patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee is denied. Scars of the bilateral lower extremities are granted a separate 10 percent rating as of July 25, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee strain was granted a 30 percent rating since June 20, 2018. The issue of left knee instability is separately rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including whether they are related to his service-connected left ankle fracture or right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition, hypertension, and kidney disorder on substitution purposes.,Service connection is also granted for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).,Service connection is granted for kidney disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee condition and separate ratings for right knee instability prior to March 14, 2017, are denied. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating from March 14, 2017, are not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities have been denied. She is granted separate evaluations of 10 percent each for left and right knee instability from the dates specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of bilateral knees, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for right knee scars and increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee were denied. The Board remanded issues related to service connection for PTSD, TDIU, and other claims.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The decision also granted SMC at the housebound rate prior to August 6, 2010.

The Board has found that further development is necessary for the Veteran's knee conditions and TDIU claim, as evidenced by remanding these issues. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional examination and review.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is granted a 70 percent rating, effective prior to October 23, 2014. The left shoulder dislocation residuals are denied any increase in rating. The left knee DJD with limitation of motion and instability is also denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The right knee laxity issue from September 18, 2020 was denied, while the service connection for right hip disability and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of sleep impairment (manifested by PND) was granted. The claim for a higher rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted with a 20% rating, and the claims for higher ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, painful movement of the right knee, frequent episodes of 'locking' and effusion into the joint in the right knee, and spondylolisthesis are all denied.