Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including psoriatic arthritis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for lower back disability, right ankle disability, left knee osteoarthritis, status post meniscectomy of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Veteran was also referred for a TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic left and right knee pain with osteoarthritis due to inadequate explanation and additional development needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment consistent with her educational and occupational experience, thus the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for updated VA treatment records. The issues include chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic constipation, PTSD, bilateral hip disability, hand disability, foot disability, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the credibility and probative value of the Veteran's lay statements. Additional development is needed in each case.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypersomnolence disorder, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral shin splints due to insufficient medical nexus opinions. The Veteran is requested to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his musculoskeletal disabilities due to incomplete records. The Veteran is required to provide information about any private healthcare providers who have treated him.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active duty service. The claim will be reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, but no higher, from July 8, 2011. The decision also found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, bilateral hip, right knee, and pelvis injuries sustained during active service. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service onset or causation.,Service connection was granted for TBI residuals, migraine headaches, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus on a lay basis.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, right knee disorder, right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and hemorrhoids. Service connection was granted for a right wrist disorder, to include a ganglion cyst.

The Board dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorders, PTSD with depression and anxiety, low back disorder, neck/cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The decision on these issues is based on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that it is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and low back condition due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury or chronic disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and back disability, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from April 19, 2010, to May 3, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis prior to September 16, 2020, and reopening of claim for total left knee replacement.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back condition is denied, as the evidence does not show that his disability warrants a rating in excess of 40 percent. The Veteran's left knee condition has also been rated at 10 percent and remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left foot disorder, right foot disorder, headaches, and right knee disorder due to the Veteran's death.