Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and he is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if he has current diagnoses of an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left forearm disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran will also be provided with a new examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss.

The appeal as to the issue of tuberculosis is dismissed. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened, but the preponderance of evidence does not support establishing that any current low back, left ankle, right ankle, or knee disabilities were incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, but has found that remand is required to obtain new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the etiology and current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further consideration under the extraschedular rating criteria due to missing documents in the record that address his unemployability prior to June 20, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 27, 2017. The Board has granted the TDIU claim effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disorders due to a lack of substantial compliance with its March 2019 remand. The case is now back before the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective April 25, 2013. The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for his right knee disabilities and the issue of a TDIU from March 31, 2012 to April 24, 2013.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hand, elbow, and knee disabilities as well as sinusitis. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no evidence that it is related to his military service or aggravated by his service-connected right great toe disability. The claim for an increased rating for the right great toe disability was also denied.

The Veteran's ratings for right knee limited extension and instability were reduced, but the Board found that these reductions were not supported by adequate evidence. The Veteran is entitled to restoration of his original ratings.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to address the Veteran's left knee condition and its impact on his employability. The remand is due to the lack of retrospective findings regarding range of motion testing and functional loss during previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for updated VA treatment records and confirmation of all associated records. The Veteran's legal name is 'Jimmy A. Davis, Jr.'

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient opinions regarding onset during service, within one year after separation, or related to in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's active duty service is alleged as a potential cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee, left knee, and right hip disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues including the initial rating for headache syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, hypertension, and a TDIU prior to April 13, 2018. Additional evidence is needed in some cases.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective April 19, 2008. The criteria were met as the Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot and right knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of cold injury to the feet, and other psychiatric disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or diagnosis of residuals of cold injury to the feet. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied as there is no evidence showing that his gout initially manifested during service, nor did it have a nexus with service.