Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for left hip and right knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right and left hip disability, as well as a right and left knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence in the file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis due to a lack of contemporaneous medical evidence and the need for an addendum opinion from the examiner.

The Veteran's heart disability, gout, and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's disability rating for limitation of motion associated with DJD of the left knee was increased to 20 percent, effective from when his claim was filed in December 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for left knee meniscal tears prior to July 8, 2018 is denied as there was no evidence of such condition before that date.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted a 40 percent evaluation from August 3, 2010 to February 24, 2014. His left and right knee disabilities were denied increased ratings.

The Board dismissed all the issues on appeal, including service connection claims and rating appeals for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities are found to be the primary cause of his patellar chondromalacia of both knees, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for anxiety was dismissed as withdrawn. Service connection is granted for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's increased ratings for bilateral knees and lumbar spine conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability severity within one year of his claim, and he was not granted a TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The psychiatric disability claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that the Veteran's active duty service as an airborne infantryman caused his current conditions.

The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear residuals, osteoarthritis and recurrent patellar dislocations are granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture residuals. A rating of 20 percent for lumbar disc disease since June 10, 2015 is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and back disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in entitlement to TDIU. The Board denied extraschedular evaluations for DJD of the right and left knees as the rating schedule adequately describes his disability level.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis and bursitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot strain, fifth metatarsophalangeal joint condition, is rated at 10 percent prior to March 18, 2016, and from May 1, 2016. The Veteran’s service-connected left hamstring tendonitis with left knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent since April 6, 2011. The Veteran's right knee strain with limitation of flexion and hamstring tendonitis is also rated at 10 percent since April 26, 2011.,The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left foot strain, left hamstring tendonitis with left knee strain, and right knee strain with instability and hamstring tendonitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected multiple sclerosis disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.