Knee decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right knee injury, finding that there was no evidence of additional disability caused by VA medical care.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including headaches, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 5, 2006 due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and additional development is required.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, which included claims for service connection and increased ratings. The Board dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a heart disability and increased ratings for various knee conditions. The Veteran's claim for headaches was denied, and the right heel calcaneal spur issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss, a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease, service connection for pinched nerves in the neck, and service connection for pinched nerves in the back have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for major depressive disorder has been granted, effective October 15, 2018. The claims for service connection for a back disorder and left knee disorders have been reopened and remanded. The right knee osteoarthritis claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left and right knee disabilities, as well as prostate cancer residuals and ischemic heart disease (IHD), due to the grant of these conditions in a prior rating decision. The Veteran's appeal is therefore moot.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits was denied as he does not have an employment handicap and is therefore not in need of rehabilitation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and increased ratings for shin splints of the left leg and right knee tendonitis with shin splints of the right leg.,The evidence did not show an increase in severity of the underlying conditions during service, and thus the presumption of aggravation does not apply.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee arthritis and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on direct evidence, not a presumption or secondary condition.

The Veteran's asthma and functional dyspepsia have been granted presumptive service connection. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if his knee and back conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disorder and her service-connected left knee disorder, as well as obesity. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee instability and right knee joint arthritis, effective from January 27, 2017. The Veteran had a pending appeal for these conditions at the time of the award.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and left knee arthritis. The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective May 19, 2017.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has found that it does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating. The appeal for TDIU was rendered moot due to the grant of total schedular ratings and SMC.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted. The claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left wrist disability, TDIU, and eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only are remanded.