Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to March 25, 2019 for TDIU was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that her service-connected disabilities prevented her from obtaining and maintaining employment prior to March 25, 2019.,The Veteran's appeal for past-due benefits by the grants of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) and TDIU effective March 25, 2019 was remanded. The Board noted that there was a discrepancy in the amount of past-due benefits awarded and ordered a complete audit/accounting.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process and requires further development for claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee flexion disabilities, as well as his service-connected left knee instability. The RO is instructed to obtain and associate the Veteran's VA treatment records from February 2015 to February 2018 with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right foot disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and headache disorder due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include gout, residuals of pneumonia, bladder disorder, kidney disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder (previously claimed as arthritis), bilateral shoulder disorder (previously claimed as arthritis), and bilateral ankle disorder (previously claimed as arthritis).

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a 50 percent since January 28, 2020. Service connection for left knee arthritis is granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for proximal phalanx fracture, left 1st toe with osteoarthritis is granted at a 20% level. The knee issues are remanded for further examination and etiology opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and instability due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations, including lack of range of motion testing under Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses of imbalance, psychiatric disability (likely anxiety), and bilateral knee disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination results regarding the Veteran's right knee range of motion, specifically during weight-bearing.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Board has also remanded other issues related to service connection and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee DJD and entitlement to a TDIU due to deficiencies in the VA examiner's opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee DJD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU prior to February 26, 2008 due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's left hand disability, bilateral knee disability, and inflammatory arthritis are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted, and the issues of service connection for right knee disability and varicose veins have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claim for service connection for lattice degeneration with retinoschisis (claimed as bilateral retinal detachment) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for right hip, right knee, and left ankle conditions. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the other issues.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not substantially comply with the May 2021 remand directives and thus, a remand is necessary to obtain adequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee conditions.,Additionally, the AOJ must follow its established procedures for requesting an advisory opinion furnished by a medical school, university, or clinic on remand.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and right wrist disabilities. The claims for a skin disability of the face and scalp and neck disability are remanded.