Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with VA's duty to assist and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and leg disability. The case will be reconsidered based on these findings.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from October 28, 2011.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for old avulsion fracture fragment in the region of the medial malleus, right ankle, effective December 28, 2015.,The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable rating for thigh, impairment of the right knee (DC 5253).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board. The AOJ is directed to consider new evidence submitted since the August 2016 denial of his right knee disorder claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic left knee symptoms during or immediately after service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between current arthritis and service.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded the skin disability claim. The decision is final with respect to the denial of the knee disability, but the skin disability case must be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion and the need for updated medical records. The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is being reviewed again with the aim of providing a more detailed explanation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right-knee disorder and service connection for left-ear hearing loss due to inadequate examinations conducted by VA. The Veteran will only pursue his appeal for a higher rating for right-knee disorder from January 1, 2012 and for service connection for left-ear hearing loss only.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and lack of opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and TBI. The Veteran is to be afforded a VA examination to determine if his disabilities are related to service, including an August 1973 motor vehicle accident.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher disability ratings for left and right knee arthritis as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as his service-connected right knee disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings of right knee laxity and chondromalacia patella was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,A 40 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted, effective from December 6, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right wrist tendonitis and remanded other claims due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disorder, hypertension, bilateral foot disorder, right ankle arthritis, and allergic rhinitis has been granted. The claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, left knee scars, PTSD, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and other conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, but the Board has remanded for further clarification on whether diabetes contributed to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), and bilateral eye condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims related to low back, knee, and shoulder disorders. The claim for service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded due to new evidence indicating the Veteran may have lumbar stenosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions and for obtaining updated VA treatment records. A new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee instability and limitation of extension are rated at 10 percent. Service connection for a bilateral hip disorder and left knee disorder is denied as secondary to the service-connected right knee disorder.