Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture. The case is being remanded for further development regarding initial disability ratings for left knee instability and degenerative arthritis of the left knee with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee DJD and back disability, finding that the disabilities are secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examination. The Veteran served in active duty, including parachute jumps, which he attributes to his current knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA treatment records and an incomplete medical history. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 is being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, as well as for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The right knee and prostate disability claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is related to his service. The VA will need to obtain and review his medical records, schedule him for a VA examination, and attempt to obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU related to his left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected left knee scar as secondary to the service-connected disability of residuals of left medial meniscectomy with arthritis has been denied. The Board also remanded other issues related to his knee disabilities, including evaluation of left knee limitation of extension and instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly concerning his exposure to cold injuries during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not provided to reopen the claims. The Board found no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other hazardous toxins, and there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for left hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection for a right knee condition, back condition, bilateral hip condition (to include bursitis), hypertension, herniated disc neck, and nerve damage are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to unemployability raised by Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including limitation of flexion and chondromalacia with degenerative changes in both knees, as well as instability in the left knee, have been granted a 10 percent rating. Shin splints were not shown to be incurred or aggravated by service, nor is obesity secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his right knee disability, PTSD, and TDIU prior to February 1, 2017. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the issues of increased evaluations for left knee disability and service connection for a left hip disability need further development. The case is being remanded to allow for additional evidence collection and medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The evidence showed that his back, knee, and tinnitus disabilities caused some limitation but were already contemplated by his current ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's duty status during his National Guard service, which impacts his entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.