Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee degenerative joint disease due to insufficient evidence under the new rating criteria. The case is being returned for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral knee and hip disabilities, prevented him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 1, 2010. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis starting from January 1, 2010.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from December 12, 2018 to April 6, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has found that remand is necessary to obtain new medical opinions regarding the service connection of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as they are related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence and concluding that his left knee condition is not related to his right hip degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee DJD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new medical opinions addressing direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee strain with arthritis and meniscal tear are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5260 (flexion) and 5261 (extension).,The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee scars are not compensably disabling.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and left knee disorder due to lack of medical evidence addressing the etiology of his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate January 2016 VA examination findings. The hypertension claim is also remanded as no explanation was provided regarding whether medications taken for service-connected disability caused an increase in blood pressure.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the right knee rating claim. The PTSD and left knee disorder claims are granted, but the right shoulder injury claim is denied. The Board has reopened the service connection claims for PTSD and left knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a left knee disability due to inadequate opinions and requires an independent medical expert (IME) opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right knee replacement as secondary to his left knee condition was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and bilateral shin splints, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

Your claims for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these claims before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran served as a paratrooper, which may have contributed to his current knee conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for disability ratings and discontinuation of a separate rating for left knee conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, back disability, bilateral hearing loss with loss of balance, and hypertension have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), right hand disorders, left hand disorders, left foot disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, and right leg disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran's claim for dizzy spells is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee instability and arthritis have been granted a separate initial 10 percent rating from March 30, 2010. Ratings in excess of 10 percent for the right knee arthritis prior to January 28, 2016, and from January 28, 2016, are denied.