Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including TDIU and disability ratings for ankle and knee conditions. The Veteran is required to provide tax returns from 2008-2009 and undergo VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed as the claims were withdrawn by his representative during a hearing. The Board has also determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of his ankle and knee disabilities, as well as whether he has radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The Board has expanded the claims to include other psychiatric conditions and remanded several issues related to his service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for left knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, and bone spur (unspecified) have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and left knee disorders due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The claims are now pending again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for TBI and a left wrist disability. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding his right and left knee disabilities due to new evidence and changes in rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for additional information from the Veteran's representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle degenerative joint disease and for his bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and neck disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral knee, left shoulder, left ankle, sinus, and chronic bronchitis disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability, sleep disorder (OSA), left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete development of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of adequate reasoning in not addressing the theory of service connection involving obesity as an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent prior to April 23, 2021. Beginning on that date, the Veteran is granted a 30 percent evaluation for his postoperative PCL and ACL.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current right knee disability may be related to service, but a new medical opinion is needed due to an internal inconsistency in the previous opinion. The VA must obtain relevant VA treatment records and notify the Veteran of any inability to obtain them.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating based on limitation of range of motion or instability, and thus a higher rating is not warranted.