Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 11, 2015, for service connection of right ankle and right knee disabilities. The appeals for bilateral pes planus, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), low back disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), skin disorder other than PFB, right ankle disability, and right knee disability are pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right knee and ankle strains, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to December 10, 2014. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis, as there are outstanding records and the Veteran's work history needs to be updated.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inconsistency in the VA examiner's opinion and a need for further explanation regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's request for increased ratings for her lumbar strain and left knee disabilities, as well as the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, are remanded. The reduction in rating for left knee instability from 10 percent to noncompensable is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, right foot disability, left foot disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied service connection for right knee strain and left knee disability, as well as the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 19, 2016. The claims were based on a lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions that his disabilities are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability or other conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of rating greater than 10 percent for left knee instability and osteoarthritis due to insufficient range of motion testing in the previous examination.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as part and parcel of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to September 18, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is about the calculation of a $4,357.49 debt related to FY 2015 military drill pay collected with VA disability compensation pay. The RO incorrectly computed the amount due based on the Veteran’s 100% disability rating when he was rated at 20% disabling during his 40 days of receiving drill pay in FY 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and for an increased rating for her right knee injury due to additional development being necessary.

The Board granted higher initial ratings for the right knee arthritis disability, slight lateral instability of the right knee, and left shoulder disability from February 1, 2010 to March 25, 2013. The cervical spine disability was denied a higher initial rating since March 26, 2013.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee are not service-connected. However, frostbite residuals of the bilateral feet have been granted as a result of new evidence submitted after reopening the claim.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for right knee instability from October 1, 2009 to December 12, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability and eligibility for payment or reimbursement for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, both of which are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's left knee subluxation is granted with a separate rating of 10 percent, effective from November 28, 2014. The ratings for his left knee patellar tendonitis and degenerative arthritis as well as his lumbar spine sprain are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, dizziness, a back disability, a right knee disability, chronic fatigue, chronic abdominal pain, joint pain and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to hepatitis C due to inadequate explanation in the May 2018 decision.