Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing treatment records and an inadequate examination. The Veteran's right knee condition needs further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee meniscectomy with post-traumatic arthritis, cardiovascular disability, diabetes mellitus, and left leg disability due to additional evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic left knee problems during active duty or within one year after discharge. The Board also found no medical opinion linking the left knee disorder to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee instability is granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the June 2021 VA examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral knee disorders, including whether they are related to service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder and a bilateral knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, hip, upper-leg, and lower-leg disabilities as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and thus remanded for further development including obtaining a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature, etiology, and severity of his claimed conditions. The issues include right hip arthritis, glaucoma, gout, hearing loss, knee disability, and sleep disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and bilateral knee strain are granted as service connected.,Service connection for the right ankle disability, characterized as Achilles tendon tear and instability of the right ankle, is denied.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for left knee arthroplasty from February 1, 2017. The issues of service connection for an autoimmune disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to neuropathy and right knee disorder, as well as low back disorders, are remanded due to inadequate or insufficient medical opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable prior to March 13, 2001 and as 10 percent since. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for knee disabilities and leg disabilities due to lack of evidence or clear legal entitlement.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 9, 2011 for the award of SMC based on the need for A&A due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred during service, did not manifest within one year of separation, and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service.,The Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred during service, did not manifest within one year of separation, and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, skin disability, cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity radiculopathy have been rated as per the criteria. The effective date for the award of a TDIU has been granted earlier than April 17, 2020, and an earlier effective date for the establishment of basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 35 (DEA) has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable, as he can perform sedentary work with some restrictions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding in-service duties and symptoms is considered sufficient to trigger VA's duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hand conditions (right-hand condition and left-hand condition) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis.