Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and shoulder disorders due to incomplete records, including right knee surgery records. The Veteran is also seeking opinions on whether his current knee and shoulder conditions are related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee strain, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that her current condition began during active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back disorder, left elbow disorder, and right knee disorder have been dismissed as the appeal has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disorder. The cases are being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various disabilities, including elbow, cervical spine, thoracic spine, wrist, hip, knee, bronchitis, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically right and left knee DJD, have been rated at 20 percent for limitation of flexion. Separate 10 percent ratings are granted for limitation of extension in both knees. The claim for instability is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for several claims, including the restoration of a left knee rating, increased ratings for right-hand fingers, and service connection for additional lumbar spine disabilities. The issues are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a written statement received in February 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are service-connected, with no specific date provided.

The Board has determined that the VA's remand instructions were not followed and thus, the claims for service connection of right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with your claims as they are no longer valid.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating. The Veteran's right and left knee strains are currently rated at 10%, with no higher ratings warranted due to the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and a left knee disability, to include as secondary to a right ankle disability due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The case is being remanded due to the Veteran not receiving proper notice of scheduled VA examinations for his upper back disorder and right knee strain. He will be provided with a new opportunity to appoint a representative if he chooses, and all relevant VA treatment records since April 2020 will be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his left knee disability, which was previously rated as chondromalacia patella and later changed to total knee arthroplasty, is being remanded for additional development. The case will be reconsidered with the new evidence provided.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims were previously remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and for the Veteran to provide updated information regarding his work history.

The Veteran's initial claim for a left index finger fracture has been granted with an effective date of December 17, 2018.,Service connection for bilateral shin splints, right shoulder disability, cardiomyopathy, and right knee disability is remanded to allow for further development.