Citation Nr: 21015823 Decision Date: 03/18/21 Archive Date: 03/18/21 DOCKET NO. 11-17 470 DATE: March 18, 2021 REMANDED An initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the right knee.   REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from December 1990 to July 1991, from December 1995 to August 1996, and from August 2005 to November 2006. She also had service in the Reserve. This matter is on appeal from a September 2011 rating decision. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge in a hearing at the RO in October 2016. Most recently, in November 2020, the Board remanded the case for additional development. Upon remand, a December 2020 rating decision granted an initial 20 percent rating for the service-connected right knee disability. This was not a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The December 2020 rating decision also granted service connection for hallux valgus, right great toe. That was a complete grant of the benefit sought. An initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for osteoarthritis of the right knee. At a December 2020 VA examination, the Veteran identified outstanding private treatment records that may be relevant to the claim. She reported that she had undergone a consultation for right knee total knee arthroplasty using Shelbourne Knee Center. A remand is warranted to allow VA to obtain authorization and request these relevant records. Effective February 7, 2021, VA amended the rating criteria for evaluating the knee. On remand, the RO should consider the old rating criteria for the entire rating period and the new rating criteria from February 7, 2021, whichever is more favorable. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Ask the Veteran to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for Shelbourne Knee Center. Make two requests for the authorized records, unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. 2. When readjudicating the claim, the RO should consider the old rating criteria for the entire rating period, and the new criteria from February 7, 2021, whichever is more favorable. RYAN T. KESSEL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board C. Bosely, Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.