Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and requires a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee and right hip conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings based on the current manifestations of his conditions.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities from October 15, 2009 to July 11, 2011.

The Veteran's spouse is not found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to her disabilities, as she can manage most daily activities with assistance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted with a separate 10 percent rating effective April 25, 2013.,A higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the criteria for higher ratings under various knee diagnostic codes have not been met.,No effective date has been assigned due to lack of a specific claim or change in rating.

The Board denied benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for postoperative residuals of right total knee replacement surgery, post staph infection, to include back and hip disabilities with right leg shortening due to lack of informed consent.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the Veteran's left knee meniscus and tendinopathy, finding that these conditions are proximately due to his service-connected right leg disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, anxiety disorder, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions and outdated records. The Veteran will need new VA examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, lower back, and left foot disabilities due to their secondary nature to a service-connected right ankle disability. The remand requires an addendum opinion addressing whether these disabilities are proximately due or have undergone any incremental increase in disability due to the service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and tinnitus have been reopened. The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claims, but the cases are still pending as they need to be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted. Service connection for a bilateral knee condition, migraines, right eye injury, and left shoulder condition are denied. Service connection for a right shoulder condition is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions. The effective date of any grant is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The housebound criteria are dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, swelling of the face, bilateral knee disability, varicose veins, blood clots, and a back disability. The remand requires additional medical examinations and records review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records from his previous residence in Florida.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease as the Veteran did not undergo an in-service event, injury or disease that caused his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.,Specifically, a new VA examination is required to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as instability of the right knee prior to December 21, 2015.