Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 28, 2015 for his TDIU and DEA eligibility. The Board found the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities from that date.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis prior to January 17, 2020 and from that date was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for the period since January 17, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or secondary to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and right knee have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn them.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination in determining the extent of right knee limitation of motion prior to January 11, 2019. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to comply with Sharp v. Shulkin and Correia v. McDonald.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, dermatitis, and right knee disability due to additional evidence received since the July 2019 Statement of the Case.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including a new examination to assess his left ankle disability and opinions regarding secondary service connection for right ankle, bilateral knee, and low back disabilities. The appeals are REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service or events therein.,Service connection was denied for a cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence showing a chronic condition during service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, migraines, and a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea and insomnia). The case is remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed sleep disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not ready for decision due to outstanding records and outdated examination reports. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is remanded. The issue of service connection for a mental health condition is also remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is rated at 10 percent prior to May 21, 2019, and at 20 percent thereafter. The right knee conditions are both rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for residual hernia surgery scars and right ear condition is granted. The claims of entitlement to service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hand, knee, and foot arthritis as well as a skin disease (rash) due to additional development being necessary. The Veteran's service connection claims are based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee scars warrant an increased rating of 20 percent, but denied his claim for a higher disability rating for his chondromalacia, left knee status post meniscectomy with instability (left knee disability) for the period from April 1, 2014, through April 27, 2016. The case is being remanded to allow further development and consideration of these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The Veteran is required to undergo a new examination and provide an opinion on whether his current right knee disability is related to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have residuals of a broken right leg other than his already service-connected status-post surgical ORIF/osteocentesis of the right knee with post-surgical complications and residuals and right hip joint replacement.,The Veteran's left hip condition is remanded for further examination to determine if there are any current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The issues of service connection for various knee, back, and shoulder disorders are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining missing private treatment records and providing a new VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder.