Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and a TDIU claim. The reasons for the remand include scheduling of VA examinations and addressing functional impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection.,Service connection for the right foot disability is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.,Service connection for the left knee condition is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.,Service connection for the right knee condition is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.,Service connection for the foot fungus/skin condition is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.,Service connection for lung condition (to include pneumonia and/or bronchitis) is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected neck, back, and knee disorders have resulted in a need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders due to an inadequate VA medical opinion in a previous decision.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's lay reports of an in-service injury were not credible and there was no evidence of such an injury in his service records.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right knee disability are granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the claims for chondromalacia of the left and right knees due to insufficient reasoning in an earlier opinion regarding flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, granting entitlement to TDIU. The issues of service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's right knee and right ankle traumatic arthritis, including any additional functional impairment during flare-ups and after repeated use over time. The examiner will also determine if these disabilities played a role in the Veteran's fall risk problems.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a neck condition, low back and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay testimony regarding in-service onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran is also having his right shoulder and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome evaluated as they have not been examined in over a year.

The Veteran's right knee strain with degenerative joint disease has not been manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, limitation of extension to 10 degrees or more, ankylosis, dislocated semilunar cartilage, recurrent subluxation or instability, or impairment of the tibia and/or fibula. As such, his claim for a higher initial rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate March 2019 VA examination report, and will conduct a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for reopening a previous denial of service connection for left knee disability is granted. The case is remanded to determine if the condition is related to active duty service or secondary to other conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with a current evaluation of 0%.,The Veteran's left knee and back disabilities have not yet reached the criteria for increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of his symptoms since March 2006.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right knee disabilities and the issue of entitlement to TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran is also required to be provided with a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 23, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for left knee strain.

The Veteran's right and left total knee replacements are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5055. The Board finds that the residuals of the knee replacements do not warrant a higher disability rating.