Knee decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed the appeals for left knee disability, anxiety disorder, and hemorrhoids as they are no longer relevant due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further evaluation. The appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for higher staged ratings for status post left knee total replacement, finding that the evidence did not reach a level of equipoise as to whether such higher ratings were warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disorders, as well as his claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to additional VA-developed medical evidence not having been addressed in a Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left arm disability, right arm disability, right knee disability, and bilateral foot tinea pedis due to new evidence of increased severity since his last VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability had its onset during active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to insufficient etiology opinions provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's left knee sprain, specifically related to flare-ups and functional limitations. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee DJD were denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less at any time during the appeal period.,Both knees are currently rated at 10 percent under DC 5260, which covers limitation of flexion.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee condition, depression with suicidal tendencies, and drug addiction/dependency due to new evidence indicating potential causation or foreseeability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle and bilateral knee osteoarthritis, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU claim as the evidence does not support that any of the service-connected disabilities alone or in combination prevented him from obtaining employment.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings of his psychiatric and right knee disabilities, as well as claims for service connection for left knee and right toe disabilities, have been dismissed. The Veteran's GERD has been granted a 60% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is considered abandoned due to his failure to submit the requested VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as both conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings and the need for further evidence, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to active service, with the exception that the earliest documented symptoms were over 28 years after separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition as the preexisting condition did not increase in severity during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to additional evidence and need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee instability and limitation of motion was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for instability or a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of motion prior to August 20, 2014.