Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for stage 3 breast cancer and a compensable rating for scar, right knee status post knee replacement are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acute promyelocytic leukemia, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and high blood pressure have been granted. The evidence provided a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's left knee partial meniscotomy and excision of the popliteal cyst are rated at 20 percent prior to November 24, 2020.,A separate 20 percent rating is granted for residuals of the left knee partial meniscectomy.

Service connection for a right knee disorder is granted. Service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for rating increases and service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee issues are a continuation of symptoms he experienced during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee osteoarthritis and left eye disability due to inadequate development in previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left hand, left knee, and right knee conditions due to missing service records. The Veteran will need to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected status post left knee ACL reconstruction and for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected left leg neuropathy prior to December 9, 2015, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter due to outstanding VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for rating purposes, necessitating further development to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hip and bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete VA medical opinions and outstanding records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee and/or low back conditions, is remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination in July 2016. The Veteran testified that he self-treated his conditions after active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle sprain and left knee strain and instability is remanded due to inconsistencies in the May 2021 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee condition and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hip and right knee disorders have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand four claims for increased ratings due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disabilities are all involved.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service and are more likely due to aging and obesity.

The Veteran's service-connected squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil with lymph node removal is found to be related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The associated secondary disabilities such as osteonecrosis of the right knee, aspiration pneumonia, epiglottic dysmotility, and bronchiectasis are also found to be related to treatment for his service-connected tonsillar cancer.