Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The right knee and left knee disability claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The hypertension claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence and a need for an updated VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, low back disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for the right below the knee amputation (BKA) and denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to non-service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and failure to notify the Veteran in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). The Veteran is asked to submit or authorize VA to obtain all non-VA treatment records relating to his right knee disability, including those from Dr. T.C., Covington Bone and Joint, and Andalusia Health Physical Therapy. A new VA medical opinion is needed for the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability prior to October 16, 2019.

The Veteran's increased ratings claims for left and right knee patellofemoral syndromes were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and other specified disorder was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, drug abuse, left hip disability, right knee disability, and right foot pes planus were dismissed or remanded as appropriate.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and her active duty. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected back and lower extremity disabilities. Her bilateral hearing loss claim is denied. The lumbar spine disability rating is increased to 40 percent, effective July 28, 2020. The right knee disability ratings are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated medical opinions. The issues include seeking higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, obtaining earlier effective dates for certain awards of service connection, and determining whether a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical opinions. The right ankle, bilateral pes planus, back disability (secondary), and left knee disability (secondary) claims will be addressed again.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU due to new evidence not having been considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities as well as headaches secondary to PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, whether it began during service, and its relationship to his active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and right foot disabilities. The VA will need to provide an addendum opinion or a new examination to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has ordered the case back to be reviewed due to a request for additional private treatment records from the Veteran's primary care provider.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine strain and left knee strain, but denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and migraines. The case is remanded for further development regarding WPW syndrome and right foot disability.

The Board found that the February 2016 combined disability rating of 40% was calculated correctly and upheld it.