Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left and/or right Achilles tendon disorder, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder have been denied. The Board has remanded these issues due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right knee strain and instability were denied as his conditions do not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including traumatic arthritis and instability, is not rated higher than 30 percent for the residuals of a right knee injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral ankle disorders, and a back disorder due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for annual clothing allowances for knee braces in 2017 is being remanded due to the lack of updated VA treatment records and clarification on his use of the braces.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee disorder are granted service connection, while the claims for scar on left forearm and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's claims for fatty liver, low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral athlete's foot, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder have all been denied. The issues of service connection for right and left hip disorders and right and left ankle disorders are being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each since September 29, 2008. The TDIU claim prior to April 10, 2017 has also been granted.

The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to service, and the Board denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is granted. The Board has also remanded issues related to his bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis was granted. Increased ratings were granted for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, as well as limitation of extension of the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an additional disability of the left knee and an evaluation higher than 30 percent for situational phobia with a depressive disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney requesting to withdraw these claims.

The Veteran's right and left knee instability were granted at a 30 percent rating from January 31, 2007 to May 20, 2012. The ratings for chondromalacia of the right knee and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee remain unchanged.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a 20% disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The right foot, hip, hand disorders are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's pre-TKR left knee disability is rated at a combined of 30 percent from June 8, 2014 to September 12, 2017. A rating in excess of 50 percent for the post-TKR period is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia with postoperative anteromedial plica and osteoarthritis, is rated at 10 percent. The rating for right knee instability has been granted but remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities are being remanded for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking increased disability evaluations for his right knee and ankle conditions, as well as a TDIU.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, but the issue of service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a left knee disability based on the receipt of new and material evidence is granted. The claims for service connection for a left knee disability (on the merits) and a back disability are remanded due to inadequate examination.