Knee decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, and remanded the cases of left ankle and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for a right knee disability is granted, and the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is also granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for right lower extremity edema has been withdrawn.,The Board has remanded the claims for impaired short-term memory loss, left lower extremity edema, left hip disability, left leg torn ligaments, left knee disability, and service-connected tendonitis of the left ankle.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating higher than 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia patella and entitlement to a rating higher than 10 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a rating of 30 percent, effective from April 26, 2014. The other issues are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records, and requests that all relevant VA and private treatment records be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current knee conditions and his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left foot disability, left knee disability (secondary), and psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to issues with range of motion, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's knee conditions are being reviewed for additional evidence during flare-ups, while opinions on the causes of his hypertension and diabetes mellitus will be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 10 percent for instability of the right knee is granted, effective from the date of the August 2019 rating decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's death and service connection claims due to incomplete evidence, including VA records not submitted during the initial evidentiary window. The appellant is also seeking substitution as claimant for her husband's pending claims.

The Board has granted effective dates of May 1, 2021 for the assignment of a 60 percent rating for residuals of left total knee replacement and TDIU award.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was dismissed. His earlier effective date claim based on CUE in a June 2008 decision was granted, with the effective date set at October 18, 2007. The issues of service connection for right elbow and right knee disabilities were remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, low back disability, and right knee disability due to new evidence received. The claims are being reviewed based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for benign prostate hyperplasia and arthritis of the bilateral knees, elbows, shoulders, and hands due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder due to new and relevant evidence having been received since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee injury with degenerative joint disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Veteran's knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, but the appeal for service connection on these issues is being remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the following claims: whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a sleep disability, entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral myositis and lumbar disc degeneration, entitlement to a compensable rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee tendonitis. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development.