Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and needs a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left arm disorder, PTSD, and lumbar spine disorders are not service-connected. The Board also found that her right knee and foot conditions have not been evaluated since September 2014 and ordered additional examinations to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee scars were rated at 10 percent for the period prior to March 11, 2019 and denied any higher rating thereafter. The Board found that there was no evidence of deep or nonlinear scars with underlying soft tissue damage.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for the period from November 15, 2012 to February 15, 2013, and granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee condition is related to his service, specifically his ACDUTRA training as a parachutist. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from a health care provider.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher initial disability ratings for right knee disability and TDIU prior to March 25, 2013 due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's right knee range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and VA treatment records. The right knee disability claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's left eye disorder is denied as not related to service or a current disability. Other issues such as eczema, respiratory disorders, psychiatric conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorders are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a right knee and left knee disorder due to inadequate VA examination. The Veteran contends her knee disorders are related to military service, including marching, carrying heavy backpacks, and running on hard surfaces.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as headaches. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.,Service connection was granted for a left eyebrow residual scar with an initial disability rating of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, TBI, left hip disability, and left knee disability. The claims are now remanded to obtain VA examinations and determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right knee strain, prior to January 4, 2019 for right shoulder arthritis, and after January 4, 2019 for right shoulder arthritis have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for a right elbow disorder, bilateral foot disorder, nasal scar, and TDIU are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and review of certain records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, including atrial fibrillation, hypertension, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine, right shoulder arthroplasty, left shoulder debridement, right knee replacement, and status post left knee ACL reconstruction. The appeal is remanded to allow for further evaluations and determinations regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for right knee disability remains at 10 percent.,The Veteran's initial rating for left knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from maintaining gainful employment with respect to the period on appeal.

The Veteran's left knee strain, characterized by limitation of flexion, is rated at 10 percent and the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the post-Remand record. The case is being returned to obtain new opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including whether they are related to his service or as a result of his already service-connected back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.