Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claim for a right knee disability due to incomplete records from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to increases in ratings for low back and left knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU prior to June 30, 2015. The appeals are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee pain and lower abdominal pain due to incomplete development of records, including a search for treatment records from Elmendorf Air Force Base Hospital. The Veteran is also requested to provide any additional relevant private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for nerve damage of the left knee, right knee, and hypertension as there is no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.,Service connection was not granted for left knee and right knee disabilities due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee disorders, as well as his left foot disorder and right foot or ankle disorder. The case is remanded to provide another opportunity for a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by osteoarthritis and patellofemoral syndrome, is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the range of motion remains within limits that do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's right and left knee traumatic arthritis were granted staged disability ratings of 20 percent each prior to September 14, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence received since the last final decision. The Veteran's current disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for further action by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reports of leg pain during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as incurred in service. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability aggravated her right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining a medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including her bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions, have prevented her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 10, 2017.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been remanded for further development.,Separate ratings for instability of the left and right knees are proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee, now characterized as a total right knee replacement. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for the left knee disability is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 60 percent rating effective September 28, 2020.,All other claims were denied or granted with specific ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for other conditions including a duodenal ulcer, lumbar spine disability, neuropathy of the lower legs, cervical spine disability, neuropathy of the upper arm, right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral shin splints.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee osteoarthritis due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, and requests that VA attempt to obtain any remaining service medical records. The AOJ must document all efforts made and provide a formal finding of unavailability if no further records are found.