Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran withdrew her claims for service connection and evaluations related to various conditions, including constipation, left ankle fracture, fatigue and insomnia, cervical spine disability, ganglion cyst of the left knee, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain, lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle surgery.

The Veteran's lumbar and thoracic spine strain was granted a 20% rating from September 14, 2019. The initial ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that it was less likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and scoliosis.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is rated at 10 percent prior to July 2, 2018. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for a right knee disability and an increased evaluation for left knee degenerative joint disease need further development. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its inextricability with these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran currently has a left knee disorder, and if so, its relationship to his military service or bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and lack of contemporaneous records. The Veteran's right knee condition is being reviewed for service connection, secondary to his left knee condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their relationship to military service. The Veteran's reports about his in-service injury and symptoms are considered, but an examination is needed to provide a definitive opinion.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is granted as secondary to her service-connected hysterectomy. Her right knee and left hip disabilities are not rated higher than the current 10 percent due to lack of limitation of motion or other compensable criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20% and denied a higher rating.,For the left knee, prior to September 30, 2019, the Veteran was denied a higher rating of 20%. Beginning December 1, 2019, he received a temporary 100% rating for convalescence. The Veteran is now rated at 20% for his left knee disability.,The Veteran's left knee disability has been granted a separate 10% rating beginning September 30, 2019.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a rating of 60 percent since September 22, 2016. The previous issue of entitlement to a higher rating prior to May 1, 2013 has been denied.

The appeals for service connection on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, cerebral embolism, and right knee disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion, and for a compensable rating for right knee limitation of extension due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney stones is granted. The claim for increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, rated 10 percent prior to January 17, 2017 and 40 percent since then, is denied. The claims for higher ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee limitation of flexion are also denied. A rating of 10 percent for right knee lateral meniscus tear is granted. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to March 26, 2018 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left, right knee disabilities and a low back disability due to insufficient evidence of their onset or relationship to service. The Veteran is also granted to reopen his claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding range of motion testing for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for uterine fibroids, fibromyalgia, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hand and foot disabilities (frostbite), low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and headache disability have all been denied.,There is no current evidence of these conditions in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability and dismissed the claim of low back disability.