Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of current evidence of left elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection for respiratory/pulmonary disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder. The case will be returned for further development, including a clarification from a VA examiner on the nature and etiology of her right knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only is denied due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria. The claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound is remanded as VA medical records from November 2015 to the present are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence to determine the severity of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities during the period on appeal, as well as whether symptoms can be differentiated from his non-service-connected CIDP.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a low back disability, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.,There is no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to July 28, 2010 for the grant of service connection for residuals of left tibia stress fracture is denied. The Veteran's claim was not received as a formal or informal claim before this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder. The examiner was asked to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral knee osteoarthritis have been granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma in service, which caused his current tinnitus. For the knees, the Board determined that the symptoms were chronic during service and continued after service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative spondylosis and denied service connection for right knee disability. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's initial requests for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, and psychiatric disability have been denied.,For the period prior to May 27, 2021, the Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30% effective from September 16, 2013.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and chondromalacia were rated at 20 percent from May 31, 2011 to July 4, 2013, and at 30 percent from July 5, 2013 to September 17, 2013.,The Veteran's left knee arthritis and chondromalacia were rated at 10 percent prior to January 24, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine residuals of sprain and right knee disability was dismissed. Separate initial ratings were granted for the right knee based on limitation of extension, instability, and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Board has decided to remand four of the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions. The claims include service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an examination that complies with the Board's June 2021 remand directives and determining if a separate rating under DC 5261 (limitation of extension) is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome was dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his request.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for further development. The claims of service connection for sinus, pulmonary, and sleep apnea disabilities remain unresolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding various service connection claims, including for bilateral hearing loss, left arm condition, lumbar strain, left knee condition, left ankle condition, plantar fasciitis, anxiety condition, migraine headaches, jaw condition, lung condition, bronchitis, pneumonia, cervical strain, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right arm condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, kidney stones, right hip condition, left hip condition, and right ankle condition. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees as a residual of right femur and left tibia fractures, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 30% rating for limited extension since December 3, 2020. The previous ratings for flexion and instability were maintained.