Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability is denied. A separate evaluation for symptomatic residuals of semilunar cartilage removal and instability are granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, tremors of the bilateral upper extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and chronic joint pain as they are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee disorder and skin disorder of the hands as they have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee DJD and anterior cruciate ligament tear, right knee DJD, and lumbar spine degenerative changes. The case of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected left hip and knee disabilities as a contributory cause of his death. The claim is being returned for further development.

The claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, hypertension to include as secondary to PTSD (PTSD), diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and a left knee disability are dismissed.,Service connection is granted for a sleep disorder as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, specifically obtaining an addendum opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and whether his service-connected right knee disorders caused him to become obese or increased the severity of his obesity.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the hands, knees, hips, and back as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The effective date for TDIU prior to October 29, 2018 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right knee conditions was denied. He is currently assigned a 20 percent rating for each of the three issues: limitation of extension, lateral instability, and semilunar cartilage disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss, hand conditions, and right knee disability due to incomplete VA records and inadequate examinations. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence for his right knee claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee, right ankle or back disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis was denied. A separate rating of 20 percent, effective June 19, 2021, for right knee effusion was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee tendonitis/tendinosis, right knee tendonitis/tendinosis, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right Total Knee Replacement (TKR).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development due to unclear findings in his recent VA examination regarding his bilateral knee disabilities, specifically subluxation and instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran was granted a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision. The case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding functional impairment due to pain during flare-ups throughout the period on appeal.