Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability.

The Veteran's fingernail discoloration is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness, manifested by symptoms of sleep disturbance, weight loss, and fatigue (originally claimed as sleep apnea), is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has accepted the August 2018 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) as timely and has remanded both issues for further development. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is remanded to obtain a supplemental medical opinion, while his right knee condition claim is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral hip strain, and left knee degenerative joint disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active duty or are otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.,The VA examiners found no nexus between the current disabilities and active duty service.

A rating of 20 percent for left hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited flexion, prior to April 20, 2015, is granted.,A rating of 10 percent for left hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited extension, prior to April 20, 2015, is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited flexion, prior to April 20, 2015, is denied.,A rating of 10 percent for right hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited extension, prior to April 20, 2015, is granted.,Restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for status post right ankle reconstruction with residual scar is granted, effective February 21, 2014.,Restoration of a 10 percent evaluation for lateral collateral ligament instability, left knee is granted, effective February 21, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003 for right knee arthritis, from February 12, 2016 due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete examinations and lack of information on functional loss.

The Veteran's right knee disorders, including a preexisting lateral femoral condyle defect and subsequent patellofemoral pain syndrome and medial meniscus pathology, are granted as aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings, need for new rating criteria application, and need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his low back strain secondary to a service-connected right foot disability, are granted. The case is remanded for an examination regarding the Veteran's hepatic structures.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status is denied due to the lack of evidence showing he requires regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound.,The SMP claim for aid and attendance is remanded as the RO failed to address this issue in the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings prior to April 21, 2015 were denied as his left knee disabilities did not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities prior to May 6, 2017 were denied as the evidence did not show flexion or extension limitations warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for psoriasis secondary to her major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain new VA opinions addressing whether the diabetes mellitus type II and right knee disorder clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, were aggravated by service, or are related to service.

The Board has found that the ratings for ligament laxity/instability of the bilateral knees are part and parcel of the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his bilateral knee disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records, authorize private treatment records, schedule a VA examination, and provide the Veteran with a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) which provides him with notice of the new musculoskeletal rating criteria.