Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees is related to service and has been granted as a result.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, low back, and bilateral pes planus disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and a need for an updated VA examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims. The issues include seeking increased evaluations for service-connected left knee, left ankle, right shoulder, and radiculopathy disabilities, as well as seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's bilateral below-the-knee amputations are denied as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because the proximate cause of his additional disability was not due to VA's negligence or fault.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to September 23, 1997 and ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The appeal was also remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection remain in remand status and require further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating of PFB with scarring from May 23, 2012 to May 17, 2018 was granted. The issue remains on appeal as the RO declined reopening his claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee condition.

The Board has determined that the current right knee disability may be related to service, specifically a March 5, 2000 injury during reserve training. However, further examination and opinion are needed to determine if this is the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot and knee disabilities did not incur during active service, were not caused by active service, and are not related to any service-connected disability. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy is granted a 30 percent disability rating. The left knee strain, status post anterior cruciate ligament tear surgical repair, is granted a 10 percent disability rating prior to July 21, 2021 and denied for any higher rating from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete documentation and authorization requests. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for treatment records from Dr. CEMQ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. Specifically, he seeks service connection for left knee disorder, sinusitis, hypertension, prostate disorder, and pseudofolliculitis barbae as related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 26, 2017, for service connection of right ankle degenerative arthritis and tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are REMANDED due to lack of VA treatment records from 1995 to 2010. The claims for back disability and right knee disability are also REMANDED.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the unresponsiveness of a previous VA examination and the need for additional testing related to the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's current right knee disability was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right calf disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tendinitis and bursitis of the left hip and musculoligamentous strain of the left knee due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical opinions are needed to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The claims of service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities are remanded due to the need for further development, including VA examinations.