Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot and ankle disabilities due to incomplete examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with additional opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the cases for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected back disability, considering obesity as a potential linking factor.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective August 30, 2011. The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are each granted an initial rating of 10 percent, also effective August 30, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's Gulf War service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for sore knees, respiratory condition (to include obstructive sleep apnea), and fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's right knee and prostate cancer disabilities. The first issue is about a higher rating for right knee osteoarthritis, the second concerns restoring a 100% rating for prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction after it was reduced, and the third is an increased rating claim for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right and left knee conditions, as well as his bilateral hearing loss.,Specifically, the Board requested a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's vertigo and psychiatric disorder are secondary to his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has found that another remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records from June 2010 to June 2011 and July 2020 to present. The issues of increased ratings for various knee and spine conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cases will be further evaluated by VA medical professionals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to procedural issues and need for additional examinations.

The July 2015 rating decision assigned a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, which was later revised due to CUE.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected scars were denied throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee conditions, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between current knee disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations regarding his claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is also remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The appeals seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, hypertension, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, left hip disability, left quadricep disability, heart disability, and colon cancer have been dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral wrist pain have been reopened, but the merits of these claims are not currently addressed due to pending remands.,Effective date claims for right knee and right shoulder disabilities remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and updated treatment records.,The Board is requesting that the Veteran be scheduled for updated VA examinations to determine the current severity of his musculoskeletal, bowel, and bladder symptomatology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's multiple sclerosis, dizziness, fatigue, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral leg disability. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to zero percent disabling, effective May 18, 2010, was proper. The appeal is denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to January 6, 2021, is granted.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions have significant impact on his ability to maintain employment and the evidence shows that he worked as a driver. The TDIU appeal for after January 6, 2021, is remanded.