Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee patella disability and TDIU status has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and completing a VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her so helpless as to need the regular aid and attendance of another person, which is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, but the right shoulder and PFB issues are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,Further development is needed to determine the etiology of the appellant's right shoulder disability and his current rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board has denied initial disability ratings greater than 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that their current manifestations do not warrant higher ratings based on range of motion.

The Veteran's service-connected physical disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, a headache disability, and left knee instability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records from private providers and verification of the Veteran's duty status during his deployments.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were of sufficient severity to have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to his death, leading to a TDIU being granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of chronic left knee symptoms in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the Veteran's current left knee condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including knee disabilities and HIV-related cancer, are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and post-surgical arthroscopy with painful motion, has been granted increased ratings. The total left knee replacement is also rated at 60 percent effective December 1, 2015. However, the left shoulder disability remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee replacements are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's arthritis and degenerative joint disease are not related to his active service or any period of ACDUTRA. The evidence did not establish continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis, status post meniscus removal surgery, is rated at 10 percent. The ratings for left and right Achilles tendonitis are also 10 percent each.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability. However, these issues are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain with old avulsion fracture fragment lateral aspect of the proximal tibia, and right thumb strain due to additional evidentiary development being required.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether pneumonia and COPD were related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as he is not considered in need of such assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including meniscectomy and instability, is granted with a 20% rating effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination regarding functional loss during flare-ups and after repeated use over time.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and right ankle. The decision is based on the need for additional VA treatment records related to these conditions.