Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis. The right knee injuries are currently rated separately for arthritis and instability. Both issues require further development to determine appropriate ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings and potential need for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further evidentiary development due to deficiencies in previous examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including neck condition, back disability, knee and ankle conditions, foot conditions, diabetic retinopathy, diverticulitis/constipation, uterine fibroids, dyschromia, and menopausal syndrome. The Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as the result of military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain, bilateral knee strains, respiratory disorder (including rhinitis and asthma), and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by probative medical evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition at induction.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted.,Service connection has been established for rectus femoris syndrome, piriformis syndrome, right knee disorder, back disorder, left hip disability, and left thigh disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding his claimed disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities under the revised rating criteria effective February 7, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of specific range of motion findings during flare-ups and after repetitive use, requiring further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination results and inextricability with his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's right knee disability, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to extraschedular evaluations for left knee disabilities due to ongoing issues and new evidence.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.,For service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, additional development is needed as remanded by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to missing or unavailable VA treatment records and Army Reserve service records.

The Veteran's appeal involves increased ratings for various knee, ankle, and foot disabilities. The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to evaluate the current severity of these conditions under the revised rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of a right knee disability and a cervical spine disability for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a left foot disability and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and back disabilities. The Veteran's left foot disability is found to be related to his military service, but the VA examiners have not provided opinions on whether his left knee and back disabilities are secondary to his left foot disability.