Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and service connection for right knee disability are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining SSA records and the timing of evidence submission.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis on a presumptive basis. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected residuals of shrapnel wound in the right thigh. A disability rating of 40 percent is granted for the residuals of shrapnel wound, right thigh, muscle group XIV.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The left shoulder, right ankle, and left knee disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability prior to July 15, 2019 is denied. The Veteran's arthritis in the left knee with painful motion prior to July 15, 2019 is granted at a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of left knee replacement from September 1, 2020 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now granted. The Board found new and material evidence that supports the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, plantar tendonitis, heel spurs, knee disabilities, and ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, to include meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear employment status and income information, which is needed to determine if the Veteran's work qualifies as substantially gainful employment. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on this additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for readjudication due to a lack of consideration of recent evidence in the April 2020 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his total right knee replacement was denied by the Board. The current evaluation of 60 percent is maintained, as it reflects chronic residuals including severe painful motion in the affected extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,New evidence has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for neck disability and right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right sciatic radicular pain, right hip condition, right knee condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left hip condition, and left knee condition. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence requiring further development by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining records from his Vet Center and VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings for right knee, left knee, and right foot conditions due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran's attorney withdrew all issues on appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to incomplete records and need for new medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee tendonitis disabilities have been denied. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of service connection, disability rating, and other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee condition is related to his military service. The issues of entitlement to service connection and nonservice connected pension are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from August 11, 2017, to June 14, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU based on the evidence in equipoise.