Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of the assigned percentages for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues related to service connection.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a fully informed decision on the Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial compensable disability rating for inguinal hernia, as well as his other disabilities. The Veteran will be provided with another VA examination and asked to submit any additional evidence he may have.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his left and right knee disabilities. The reasons are that VA needs to obtain additional medical records from SSA, provide an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his active duty service, and consider new evidence including publications on whiplash injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of arthritis of the left knee and left ankle as secondary to service-connected right total knee arthroplasty due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's complaints in service and the relationship between his current conditions and his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches, low back disability, and left knee disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay statements and positive nexus opinions provided by his private physician.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for right knee instability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximate moderate instability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected internal derangement, left knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, except for the grant of a 10% rating for right knee osteoarthritis. Other conditions and issues remained denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with a previous remand directive and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's unspecified hip disability and right knee disability service connection issues are being reviewed again for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has found that it does not warrant a higher rating. The right and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further development to determine their etiology.,The claims for service connection of the bilateral knee disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during or related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for PTSD, low back disorder, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has maintained substantial gainful employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 for right knee, status post open reduction internal fixation and left knee, status post open reduction internal fixation. The issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, low back, right ankle, and bilateral foot disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU rating prior to June 30, 2015 due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran regarding her educational history and employment status. The Veteran is given an additional year to provide the requested forms.

The Board has remanded the case due to pending service connection issues for colon cancer, lymphoma, multiple melanoma, and esophageal cancer residuals. The TDIU prior to November 19, 2015, will be readjudicated after these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to his combined rating and lack of total disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to December 24, 2018 has been withdrawn. The claim for SMC at the housebound rate prior to December 24, 2018 is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for permanent housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.