Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinus disorder, neck disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and neck disabilities due to insufficient consideration of his lay statements regarding in-service events and continuous symptoms since then. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's gout and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a meniscal tear of the left knee as secondary to his service-connected lateral ligament instability of the left ankle.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, finding that it is less likely than not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining new VA knee examinations and reviewing all available treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and cause of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his anxiety disorder and left ankle degenerative arthritis with history of sprain and instability, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, finding that her symptoms did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 30 percent for migraines and her claim for TDIU, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not preclude her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee chondromalacia patella, right knee chondromalacia patella, residuals of a right wrist injury, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, gastroduodenitis, and diverticulitis due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical findings.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Prior to December 6, 2019, the Veteran's left knee instability was rated at 10 percent. From December 6, 2019, it has been rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, upper GI disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, thoracolumbar spine (low back) disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder are all subject to review.

Service connection for migraine headache disorder, low back disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder is granted.,Service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and an antisocial personality disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which manifested as moderate to severe painful motion during flare-ups, is granted a 60 percent rating from July 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder (secondary to a left knee disorder), left shoulder disorder, and sinusitis due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding in-service onset and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to address the severity of her service-connected right knee flexion and limitation of extension conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating for a low back disorder, as well as for an increased rating for a left knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with other claims.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as the evidence did not show a relationship to service.