Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot arthritis and plantar fasciitis, as well as degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The conditions are considered to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's right knee DJD and instability were granted initial ratings of 10 percent each, effective December 30, 2014. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee DJD have not been met.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective September 9, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's current knee conditions are presumed to be due to his in-service exposure to rough terrain and jumping from helicopters.

Entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with associated depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,Entitlement to TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities, so the claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the left knee disability from February 1, 2018. The Veteran's right hip and left hip disabilities are rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Codes 5003-5252.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for such a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and calcaneal spurs of the feet as secondary to bilateral knee replacements. The issue of service connection for OSA, secondary to PTSD, is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete VA examination for the Veteran's right knee arthritis. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is dismissed for sleep apnea. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee disability, neurological disabilities of both hands, and will be addressed in a future decision.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left hip disability. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including arthritis, were granted service connection. Service connection for low back disability and bilateral shin splints is remanded. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability. The case is being remanded to allow for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for an initial higher rating for his right knee disability, and the reopening of service connection claims for left knee and right ankle disorders are remanded due to pending VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and blood condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The new examinations are needed to determine if these conditions began in or are otherwise related to his military service, including exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of service connection claims, including an examination to address the Veteran's assertions regarding his in-service heavy lifting.

The Veteran's psoriasis form dermatitis is rated at 10 percent, the maximum allowed under current regulations. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right knee meniscotomy and limitation of flexion are both rated at their maximum allowable ratings (10% and 30%, respectively). There is no basis for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain, finding that the Veteran's disability manifested by painful motion without flexion limited to 45 degrees or less. The claim was not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for knee, back, and neck disabilities due to incomplete medical records and the need for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.