Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection for various conditions, including left knee and hip disabilities and congestive heart failure.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities, but has also remanded two issues related to his right and left knee recurrent subluxation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion. A 10 percent rating is granted for limitation of extension in the right and left knees from specific dates, with a 30 percent rating granted for limitation of flexion in the left knee during those periods. The ratings for instability in both knees remain at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and anxiety disorder, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and back disabilities, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, and low back disabilities. The appeal is being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, cervical spine, and chest pain. The remand requires additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions were aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and other specified trauma and stress related disorders.

The Veteran's right and left knee arthritis were rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent, with no evidence of additional limitation or disability warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, bilateral leg disability (peripheral neuropathy), bilateral foot disability, shoulder disabilities, elbow disability, knee disability, and hand/finger disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence to support the conclusion that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral knee disorders, and an increased rating for depression due to incomplete information in her claims file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses of degenerative joint disease in each knee and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis in upper extremities, and osteoarthritis in lower extremities due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at the maximum allowed, and a higher rating for limitation of extension is denied.,A separate evaluation of moderate instability is granted. A higher evaluation for instability is not warranted due to the amputation rule.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of an in-person examination, given the Veteran's age and health concerns.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and remanded other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right hip disorder. The decision also noted that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset in service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including meniscal cartilage involvement and popliteal nerve entrapment, is rated at 20 percent. Service connection for a left hip disability is denied. A TDIU on an extra-schedular basis is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic injury, third division of the trigeminal nerve and degenerative joint disease (DJD), right knee were denied. The Veteran was also remanded to obtain a new VA examination for her service-connected right knee DJD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.