Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities should be remanded due to incomplete records, lack of a VA examination, and need for further development.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from December 30, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete employment history and unclear functional impairment caused by service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be further developed with a new VA Form 21-8940, and an addendum from a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral shoulders, knees, left hand, and wrist, right knee, left knee, left hand wrist degenerative joint disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, preclude substantially gainful employment from June 17, 2008. Therefore, a TDIU is granted for this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been denied, except for a separate 20 percent rating granted for the right knee meniscal tear from April 4, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective March 29, 2012. The CAD issue was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for this condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left knee arthritis due to additional development being needed.

The Board dismissed the appeals as to whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the issues of service connection for left knee and right knee disorders due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back and left knee disabilities due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for new examinations.

Service connection for a right knee disability is granted. A 10 percent rating is granted for the left posterior scalp scar from January 11, 2018 to April 30, 2020. Since April 30, 2020, a rating in excess of 10 percent for this left posterior scalp scar is denied. The cervical spine disability issue is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and back disability, finding that his conditions are due to repeated impact from parachute jumps during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and further development is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle disabilities have been rated based on their current functional limitations, with no evidence of compensable limitation of motion. The Board has determined that the currently assigned ratings are appropriate.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development and evaluation due to procedural issues. The Veteran's appeals on substantive grounds are now pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for further review of evidence from February 27, 2006, to January 3, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that the preponderance of the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limited range of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding the etiology of any current right knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to withdraw his appeals for service connection of various disabilities, including skin condition, bilateral ankles, bilateral knees, neck, left ear hearing loss, low back pain, and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and a personality disorder). The claims for head injury with residual headaches have been remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for genu recurvatum of the left knee. The preponderance of evidence does not support higher ratings for either knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of a current disorder or functional impairment attributable to right knee pain since separation from service in November 2012.