Knee decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg disability, left shoulder disability, and chronic muscle fatigue. The Veteran's claims were based on his assertions of in-service injury or exposure.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current diagnoses of knee osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis and his active service.

The Veteran's right knee brace caused wear and tear on his clothing, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance in 2019.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for right knee arthritis was granted at 20 percent from January 30, 2009 to September 15, 2020. The rating was denied higher than 20 percent from September 15, 2020 to May 11, 2021 and again from May 11, 2021 to August 5, 2021. A separate compensable rating for right knee extension limitation was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for neck, low back, left knee/leg, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing chronic or recurring symptoms during or immediately after service.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been newly granted. The claims for increased ratings of right ankle strain and left knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and hypertension, but denied service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is considered to be related to his military service, while the hypertension is not. The left knee disorder was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a right foot disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to military service or aggravation by a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and knee osteoarthritis are all rated at the minimum compensable level. The Veteran has been remanded for further development on issues related to carpal tunnel syndrome and TDIU.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis with polyps, residuals of pilonidal cysts, left buttock scar, TMJ dysfunction with bruxism, a left knee/quadricep disability, and a right knee/quadricep disability. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not the result of in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities in the knees, shoulders, or BTM, nor any nexus to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.,Service connection for COPD and asthma is granted, with the Board finding that these conditions are related to in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to deficiencies in the VA examinations provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his combined rating is 40%, which allows for referral to the Director of Compensation Services for extra-schedular consideration. The Board found that while the Veteran's disabilities cause some functional impairment and impact his ability to perform strenuous jobs, they do not preclude all substantially gainful employment based on his educational and occupational history.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated as 30 percent prior to March 15, 2010 and as 60 percent from March 15, 2010 to August 9, 2015. The low back disability is rated as 40 percent as of October 21, 2020. A separate rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as of October 21, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, service connection for a back disorder, and service connection for bilateral knee disorders were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions, as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his bilateral knee disabilities, including instability and total replacements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic urticaria and degenerative joint disease of the left knee are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.