Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has found that VA examinations are necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for esophageal stricture and stenosis, scoliosis with degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis (back disability), and inflammation of meniscus of the left knee. The Board also finds a remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and granted service connection for left knee and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left ankle sprain. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, right leg disorder, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 26, 2017. The rating and service connection issues are also remanded.

The Veteran's request for re-entrance into the VR&E program following a determination of rehabilitation is denied due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from performing work duties and the occupation previously found rehabilitated being deemed suitable.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and he is now service-connected for lumbosacral strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left hip condition, and right hip condition. His increased rating claims were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected scleroderma. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his lumbosacral strain. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for these conditions are now pending before VA.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate retrospective medical opinions regarding the range of motion of his right knee during flare-ups of symptoms from February 2, 2009, to May 26, 2010, and from September 1, 2010, to September 19, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from November 1, 2014 to March 2, 2016 is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a combined 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis involving hands, wrists, knees, ankles, and pulmonary nodules was not received until April 13, 2010. The effective date of the award is therefore set to April 13, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is being remanded for further examination and rating consideration due to worsening symptoms and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's right ankle sprains are currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 30, 2010. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted under the former or revised criteria.,The Veteran's left knee instability and painful limitation of motion are both currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted it. The appeal is now remanded to determine if the condition was incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied. The Board has remanded several of the issues due to insufficient evidence or conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's left knee disability claim due to inadequate VA examination and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, mid to low back disability, and upper back and neck disability. The claim for service connection for a right knee injury is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities, hip and knee disabilities, and eye disability (glaucoma) are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's Chronic Fatigue Syndrome claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of CFS during any period of his claim.,Left ear and right ear hearing loss claims are granted.