Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knees are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and retrospective opinion.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal as it is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee disability with limitation of extension is granted, subject to controlling regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected residuals of a right ankle strain with tendonitis, achilles tendon rupture, and arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The claim will be further reviewed after obtaining necessary medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating considerations due to inadequate medical examinations in the past.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD and left knee instability have been granted initial disability ratings, with the PTSD rated at 70 percent from May 15, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the left knee arthritis was caused or aggravated by the right knee disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee injury are not granted. The case is being remanded to further develop the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant were denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for left knee DJD are denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to September 11, 2013, or in excess of 10 percent from that date through August 10, 2014, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her acquired psychiatric disorder and physical conditions such as headaches, foot disorders, knee disorders, and ear drum disorder, rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with her education and work history as of July 12, 1996. As a result, the Board granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is granted as service connected. The lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD based on MST) are also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, cervical spine, bilateral ankle, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar discogenic disease.,Service connection for a hiatal hernia is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left hip disabilities. The reasons are that additional development is needed to address the current severity of these conditions due to gaps in medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right shoulder and right knee disabilities, as the previous examinations did not clearly state at what point during range of motion testing pain began.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable evaluation for bilateral plantar fasciitis, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to July 23, 2019, are dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left inguinal hernia, left knee disorder (secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis), and right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left knee, right hip, and bilateral hip disabilities are being remanded due to the receipt of additional VA examination evidence. The AOJ is instructed to consider whether extra-schedular referral to the Director of Compensation Service is warranted in connection with these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete VA examinations.