Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including right knee disability, left knee disability, headaches, recurrent cysts, residuals of fracture, right little finger, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's outstanding VA treatment records and private physical therapy records are to be obtained, as well as any SSA records relevant to his disability benefits claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected right total knee arthroplasty from February 17, 2015 to February 17, 2016 is granted with a 100% initial evaluation.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of any service connection claims or TDIU claim as they are no longer valid with the Veteran's passing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a status post total left knee replacement, finding that there was no evidence of arthritis during or within one year after service and concluding that the current condition is not related to in-service activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of July 2, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has dismissed the claims for an initial evaluation higher than 20 percent for left knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, a temporary total evaluation for the left knee disorder, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and an effective date prior to October 22, 2015 for the grant of service connection for the left knee disorder. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for right knee disorder, back disorder, and left shoulder disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including an examination and retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to issues related to his hypertension, right knee DJD, right knee instability, and low back condition. Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, left mallet ring finger, and headaches have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, no current diagnoses were found for these conditions, and a compensable rating was denied for PFB.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for left knee disorder as it was granted in a previous rating decision, and thus the appeal is moot.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's left leg condition, as the previous examination did not provide sufficient opinions regarding his service connection claim and other related issues. The matter is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of a TDIU rating prior to August 19, 2009 due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's combined disability ratings did not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU rating at that time.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the likely etiology of the diagnosed adjustment disorder with anxiety features. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and PTSD are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee arthritis and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and inadequate examination, requiring further development and evaluation of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to September 14, 2020 and at a 10 percent rating beginning that date. The Board has found no evidence of entitlement to higher ratings for the period prior to September 14, 2020 or after that date. For his right hip disability, left hip disability, and right knee disability, the Veteran's claims are remanded as additional development is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background prior to September 7, 2016. The Board denied the TDIU claim as there was no evidence showing that he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence of a current lower back, bilateral ankle, or bilateral knee disability related to service.,The Veteran's lay statements about experiencing pain during service were not credible due to his prior denial of such symptoms.