Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, with a 30% rating for the left knee from January 8, 2020 to November 18, 2020. The Board has remanded cases regarding service connection for bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition. The AOJ is required to obtain a retrospective opinion and schedule an adequate VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disorder and neck disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right knee disability due to service connection issues, requiring further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and have granted service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis from December 1, 2012 to July 11, 2013. The claim for TDIU prior to December 1, 2012 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, bilateral hip, left knee and right ankle disabilities are related to his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities. As a result, these conditions have been granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tension headaches, heart disabilities, left knee and ankle disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinus disability are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's knee disabilities were rated at 10 percent prior to June 25, 2020. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability is being remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records from Pure Physical Therapy.

Your appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed because the issue is considered moot as it was already addressed in another pending appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability (secondary to left knee), and right thumb disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the claims for service connection for a lower back disability, left knee pain, psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and insomnia. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, thus SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring VA examinations to address the etiology of the Veteran's hip and knee disorders.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left and right knees, as well as GERD, are all granted. The rating for arthritis is set at 10 percent each knee, effective from September 26, 2018.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is being remanded for a new examination to address the severity of his condition, including any flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and new rating criteria, requiring a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities and a TDIU. The Board has remanded these matters due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.