Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various conditions and claims of secondary service connection. The decision also notes that there are outstanding VA treatment records which need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional National Guard service records and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected heel disabilities. The TDIU issue remains on hold until other service connection and higher rating issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee instability, acid reflux, and sleep apnea due to incomplete development and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, leading the Board to grant his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for head injury residuals, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability.,Further examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, and left foot disabilities secondary to his service-connected right foot disability have been granted. Service connection for PTSD has also been established.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle, bilateral knees, back, bilateral bunions, and bilateral hammertoes due to a lack of relevant medical records from UCLA in the 1970s. The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability may also be considered as it relates to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to service or his service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied the claim.

Service connection is granted for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected PTSD and asthma/COPD. Service connection for left knee disability prior to December 17, 2018, is dismissed due to lack of case or controversy. The claim for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and military personnel file, as well as any private medical records. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient reasons provided in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion from an orthopedic specialist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and the current severity of his left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded pending this development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip conditions due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or as a result of her active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's right knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his symptoms and examination findings.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the cases of left ankle and left knee disorders due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has found that there has been substantial compliance with its remand instructions and is now remanding the claims for increased ratings for left knee disability based on limitation of extension, flexion, and instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of service connection claims, specifically regarding a right knee condition and lung cancer. The right knee claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current disability to service-connected left knee issues. For the lung cancer claim, additional information about exposure to depleted uranium must be obtained before a decision can be made.