Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition and a bilateral knee condition, finding no probative medical evidence indicating current conditions.,Both the Veteran's claimed right shoulder and bilateral knee conditions are not related to his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and was more likely related to age-related degenerative disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee condition and temporary 100 percent disability rating for convalescence purposes due to an incomplete medical opinion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee, left hip, and low back conditions are remanded due to the newly granted service connection for a left knee condition. The Board will seek an opinion on whether these secondary conditions are caused by or aggravated by the service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee strain, cervical strain, and migraine headaches due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 13, 2012.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella and osteoarthritis are not severe enough to warrant a higher rating, as her instability is mild and does not significantly limit function.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle, right knee, left knee, left hip and right hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and the need for additional records, including VA treatment records from 1973-1974 in Korea and any records from the 121st Evacuation Hospital.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as arthritis, had its onset during service and has been continuous since separation from service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee instability, extension limitation, and scars has been denied. The current ratings of 20 percent for instability, 10 percent for extension limitation, and 0 percent for scars are maintained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between her current conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of explanation regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee, ankle, and hand conditions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from March 5, 2018. The Board has also remanded the case for an extraschedular TDIU determination prior to March 5, 2018.

The Board has granted a separate evaluation for instability of the left knee, but has remanded the issue of an increased rating for service-connected left knee strain due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is caused or aggravated by her service-connected right knee, lumbar spine, and bilateral pes planus disabilities.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is granted a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of his hearing in February 2021. His left knee disability remains at 20 percent for limitation of motion.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities, including instability, flexion limitation, extension limitation, dislocated semilunar cartilage, and symptomatic surgical residuals, are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent for each condition. The effective date is not specified as it pertains to a partial grant of benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability was granted with an effective date of January 23, 1981. The rating assigned is 10% from that date to July 25, 2017 for the left foot disability and from April 25, 2016 onwards.