Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, GERD, and dysphagia due to incomplete development of the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service, including his in-service motorcycle accident and injury.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for various conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development due to incomplete or contradictory examination reports. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it began during his active duty and has continued since.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 22, 2019. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of his increased severity claims. The issues include ratings for chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, sleep apnea, lumbar strain and discogenic disease, lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee meniscectomy residuals with degenerative joint disease (DJD), left knee instability, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's left knee subluxation is granted a disability rating of 20 percent prior to February 25, 2019. The Veteran's residuals of left calf with knee tendonitis/tendinosis are denied as the evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not begin during service, was not shown to have manifested within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to his military service. The most probative evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection for his current right knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, bronchitis (due to herbicide exposure), and bilateral arm skin disorder (due to herbicide exposure) as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total evaluation from February 1, 2013 to December 1, 2013 for partial replacement of the right knee is granted as he was entitled to a total evaluation for one year following his partial knee replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities require the aid and assistance of another person due to his inability to prepare meals, bathe, dress, manage medications, and get around the house.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his knee and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, gout, a left shoulder disability, and a heart disability (claimed as triple bypass-heart with defibrillator/pacemaker) have been dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected as it was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's left knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and left knee disabilities, finding that VA examinations are needed to determine their etiology. The issues remain on appeal as secondary service connection.