Knee decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed the appeals because the Veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection for a left knee disability and obesity caused by a right knee disability.

The Veteran's right and left knees were evaluated under the criteria for arthritis following total knee replacement, with a minimum of 30% disability rating. The issues related to instability have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral knee disorder, a back disorder, and a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.,Specifically, the VA examinations did not consider the Veteran's documented complaints or diagnoses during the appeals period and relied on incorrect premises in reaching their medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the bilateral knee disabilities, service connection claims, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, but remanded the issues of service connection for his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, but remanded his claims for right knee condition and rectum disorder due to additional development being needed.

The appeal seeking a higher rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine is dismissed.,A rating higher than 10 percent for limitation of extension of the left knee is denied.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,A rating higher than 10 percent for shrapnel wound scar of the upper left chest is denied.,A compensable rating for residual scars from right hip replacement and shrapnel wound scar is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100% effective August 1, 2018. The rating was reduced to 50% in July 2019 due to improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work. The appeal is granted as the reduction was improper.,Effective dates for service connection are determined based on when entitlement arose or when a claim was received within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and other conditions are service-connected. However, several issues related to knee conditions, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), phlebitis, bronchitis, undiagnosed illness, and fatigue have been remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board dismissed all claims related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The effective dates were also not granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence from 1985-1986. The Veteran will need to provide additional VA treatment records, and a new examination will be conducted.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher initial rating for right knee patella alta and TDIU due to service-connected disability because further development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee meniscectomy residuals prior to January 13, 2009 and denied entitlement to separate ratings for genu recurvatum and noncompensable limitation of motion of the right knee with arthritis. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for right total knee arthroplasty residuals from March 1, 2010 to February 28, 2017 was also denied. However, his claim for an increased rating as of March 1, 2017 was not addressed due to the Board's remand.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran also failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease and post-concussion syndrome with headaches and dizziness were at least as likely as not a contributory cause of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and service. The claim will be granted as the preponderance of the evidence is in favor of the Veteran.