Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for right knee degenerative arthritis prior to October 10, 2019 and denied any higher rating. A 40 percent rating is granted for the period since October 10, 2019.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his meniscectomy and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 20 percent from December 3, 2020. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and upper back disabilities as well as TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the service connection for coronary artery disease and the impact of service-connected left hip and knee disabilities on the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been shown to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis and right knee injury. The case will be remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations for the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, as well as his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The case is being remanded to ensure these examinations are conducted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected. The lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hand disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, headaches, ankle and leg disabilities, knee disability, and shoulder arthritis, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or relationship to service.

The Board denied a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's chronic gastritis, left clavicle fracture residuals, and sinus condition are all found to be related to his active duty service. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee strain has been rated as 10% for limitation of flexion and denied for extension. The claim for instability is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's left knee and shin splint disabilities are being reviewed, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional evidence and further development, including obtaining medical records from Drs. Smith, Wells, and Ruis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various injuries, including bilateral eye scars, cervical spine injury, left and right knee injuries, lumbar spine injury, and right hip injury. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has determined that another remand is required due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new criteria for rating knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claim for DJD of the right knee due to ongoing issues with his condition and its impact on his mobility. The case is also related to a TDIU claim, which was also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal.