Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an additional examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered after this.

The Veteran's left knee instability is being remanded for additional development as the VA examination did not fully address functional loss due to pain and flare-ups.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have not prevented him from maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hematuria is denied. The appeal regarding the rating of his left knee disability prior to March 19, 2012, and from February 13, 2009, to February 28, 2017, has been granted with a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis manifested by limitation flexion. The appeal regarding the increased ratings for his left knee disability is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 13, 2010.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding higher initial disability ratings for lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and instability of the left knee disabilities. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disability and denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

Your right knee disability has already been granted service connection by the RO in January 2021, so this appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated under the old criteria prior to February 7, 2021 and both the old and new rating criteria from February 7, 2021. The Board finds that a separate rating of 10 percent for instability is warranted.,Entitlement to higher ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and bursitis remains denied.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection. The left hip, right ankle, and knee disorders have not been found to be related to service.,Obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of adequate medical examination records and insufficient reasoning in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected left knee strain or bronchitis and COPD. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding causation of obesity by a service-connected psychiatric disability and whether the left knee disorder was caused or aggravated by that condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of substantial compliance with the October 2020 remand.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his service. The examiner is asked to provide a more detailed opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's right knee lateral instability is rated at 20 percent from January 7, 2014. The higher rating was granted as the disability more nearly approximated moderate instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion on whether the Veteran's left knee disability was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, left middle finger sprain, and low back disability manifested by pain. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements regarding his in-service injuries and subsequent symptoms.