Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right wrist disabilities, as well as for bilateral knee disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and cervical spine disabilities due to outstanding treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has granted separate ratings for the Veteran's right knee meniscal impairment and instability, increased ratings for his psychiatric disability, and TDIU. The Veteran wishes to withdraw all remaining issues associated with the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee injury, and right knee injury due to insufficient opinions in the previous VA examination. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service will be considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has added the issue of TDIU to the appeal and remanded it for further development. The AOJ is required to obtain the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation records, provide him with a VA Form 21-8940 application, and ensure all relevant documents are associated with his claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient examination information, including regarding flare-ups and additional functional loss. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current diagnoses for hemorrhoids, left lower extremity radiculopathy/numbness, right ankle disability, or sinusitis. The Veteran's service records do not show any such conditions during his active duty.,For the right knee and left knee disabilities, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's photophobia and dry eyes are related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection. His PTSD is rated at 70 percent since March 14, 2011.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities.,A 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis was granted effective December 12, 2019.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for various foot, knee, and sinus conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including gastrointestinal disability, knee and low back conditions, and lumbar radiculopathy. The remands are for additional development in order to provide adequate determinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his left knee scar was denied. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.,Service connection for right and left knee disabilities were both denied as there is no evidence of chronicity or causation in service.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for patellofemoral dysfunction of the right knee, residuals of a left knee injury with anserinus transfer, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee due to incomplete examination reports in March 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected back condition, finding that there was no evidence showing that the right knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected back condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for right elbow, left elbow, left knee, right knee, left ankle, or right ankle. The service connection claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability and left knee disability due to a lack of medical nexus opinions, requiring further development including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, left knee disability, and bilateral flat feet due to potential service connection based on exposure at Camp Lejeune. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding these conditions.