Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete findings regarding secondary service connection and recent assertions from the Veteran's representative. The AOJ is required to obtain an additional VA medical opinion to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's claimed right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from his National Guard and Reserve service, and conduct additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for various disabilities as the Veteran's death made it impossible to proceed with the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and residuals of a right knee injury with arthralgia have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knee and leg conditions, including rating determinations for arthritis and instability. The claims are being returned for additional development of vocational rehabilitation records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations, changes in rating criteria, and outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for an aneurysm was granted. Service connection is denied for the remaining conditions: emphysema, heart disability, prostate cancer, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities (left and right), and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (right and left).

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's right knee disability based on limitation of motion is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee disability based on limitation of motion is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's rating for chondromalacia of the right knee was reduced from 20 percent to zero percent effective July 1, 2015. The Board has restored the prior 20 percent rating due to procedural errors in reducing the rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, including left knee tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing military records and incomplete information about the Veteran's periods of active duty, inactive duty for training, and active duty for training. The RO is required to verify these details through official sources.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete service records and need for further development regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and left knee disability claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and knee disorders due to insufficient compliance with previous remand orders.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and its connection to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, headaches, and sleep apnea due to inadequate examination opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for cold injury residuals and withdrawn the issues related to left foot and right foot disabilities. The appeal is remanded for further examinations on glaucoma, right eye blindness, left hand disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, a right hip disability, and a bilateral foot disability. The Veteran's symptoms of these conditions were present during her active duty service and continue to this day.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran must be provided with another VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.