Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and left hip disability. The claim of entitlement to TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100 percent rating throughout the appeal period. The right knee disability remains remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's knees, including a reduction in disability rating for left knee ACL reconstruction and increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left knee and degenerative changes of the right knee. The remand is due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's lay statements about intermittent instability in his left knee.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, as the previous examinations are contradictory and do not provide sufficient information on functional loss due to flare-ups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support finding that any of these conditions began during service or are related to in-service events.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and prostate cancer. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for her service-connected mood disorder with major depressive episodes was denied. Her claim for Dependents Educational Assistance benefits was also denied due to the absence of a permanent and total disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hand disability and an increased rating for iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, finding no evidence to support the presence or causation of these conditions in service. The claim for left knee instability was granted with a separate 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left below-the-knee amputation. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to his failure to report for VA examinations, and the need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various ankle, knee, and lumbar disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements and internet articles submitted by his representative.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% disability rating prior to May 31, 2016 and a 70% disability rating from September 1, 2016. The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left knee is granted a separate 20% disability rating for lateral instability starting from September 14, 2012.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to December 14, 2017 were not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to his failure to report for VA examinations scheduled on remand.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a right ankle, left ankle, right knee, or left knee disability that was incurred in service. The Board also found no evidence of hypertension manifesting within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including effusion and instability, is rated at a 20% since March 2, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings or TDIU prior to April 2018 has been denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), to include as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic joint pain, except for his right knee and ankle issues. The decision also granted direct service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (claimed as chronic joint pain) and secondary service connection for right ankle and left knee pain due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability, as well as her request for a 70% rating for PTSD. The appeal for TDIU prior to September 17, 2019 was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee medial meniscus tear, postoperative.