Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as left knee arthritis, was caused by his service-connected right knee disability. The Board granted service connection for the left knee disability but denied a rating greater than 10 percent for residuals of right knee arthroscopy and meniscal tear.

The Board has denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disease or injury in service that led to current disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia and a meniscal tear, is currently rated as 30 percent for lateral instability. The rating remains unchanged despite the Veteran's complaints of pain and difficulty with daily activities.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis is rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating. The claims for service connection of her right and left knee disabilities were also denied as there was no evidence that these conditions began in service or are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, shoulder, back, hip, and sleep apnea disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and instability of the right knee were denied. The Board found that a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative changes was not warranted prior to February 12, 2015, and a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter is also not warranted. A rating in excess of 20 percent for instability of the right knee since February 12, 2015, is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral flat feet and left knee disability as additional development is needed to determine if his conditions were aggravated by service, and to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) is granted, as he meets the criteria with a combined rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last decisions. The AOJ will review this additional evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including chondromalacia of the knees, hypothyroidism, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and sleep apnea. The issues have been withdrawn from the legacy appeal system in favor of a modernized review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left knee conditions due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disorders, finding that additional opinions are needed to address the relationship between these conditions and his military service, as well as any aggravation by his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claims for right knee instability and pain, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher schedular rating.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating for the Veteran's left knee surgery, but has remanded the issues of service connection for right hip disability and left knee disability.

The Veteran's back and bilateral knee disorders are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities. His bilateral pes planus is already at the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded his claim for a rating increase for residuals of a left shoulder extrinsic muscle injury (group I). The case is now being returned to the Board for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee condition and its relation to service. A new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of an updated VA examination. The right knee limitation of extension case is being remanded because an additional examination is needed, and the TDIU claim is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right knee issue.