Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability to include COPD due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, including scheduling VA examinations for the Veteran's right shoulder and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including panic disorder with agoraphobia and major depressive disorder, GERD, bilateral plantar fasciitis, diabetes mellitus, type II, patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative changes in the right knee, residuals of left ankle injury, residuals of right ankle injury, post-operative chronic subacromial impingement with degenerative changes (right rotator cuff tear/impediment), tinnitus, and others, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 28, 2016. From July 28, 2016, the claim is dismissed as moot due to his combined disability rating of 100 percent.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and were not related to service. The Board also found that he was not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically Osgood-Schlatter's disease, need to be re-evaluated due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an incomplete examination. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorder, arches disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, cervical spine disability, left knee disability (knee strain), and headaches have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded five issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hip, right knee, left ankle disabilities and a mallet left little finger disability. The remand includes obtaining updated examinations of the Veteran's service-connected mallet left little finger disability, peripheral nerves examination, and addendum opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal as the Veteran has withdrawn her appeals.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee osteoarthritis. The case will be remanded to obtain new examinations and determine the etiology and severity of these conditions.

The Board has found that further development is required due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, variously diagnosed, is granted service connection.,An initial rating of 10 percent for left knee PPS with instability and painful motion is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and back disabilities are granted. The Board finds that the new evidence received is sufficient to reopen his previously denied claims, and service connection is established for both conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal by the appellant's authorized representative.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 1, 2018. He is granted TDIU and DEA benefits for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for increased ratings for right knee PFS with calcific tendinitis, left knee collateral ligament laxity, and lumbar IVDS were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish participation in combat or corroboration of noncombat stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim due to outstanding medical records not being obtained. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD disability was at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) initially manifested during service and is otherwise related to his service, including documented low back pain and a reported Humvee accident. The effective date for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted from July 21, 2016. The claims for neck disability, right knee disability, and low back pain are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate examination findings. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the evaluation claims.