Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 50% for limitation of extension since January 9, 2021. The claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection, as well as a need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent rating for granulosa cell tumor. The Board has also remanded her right knee disability for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are not related to service, including herbicide exposure or an in-service lightning strike. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.,The Veteran's GERD is also not related to service, specifically his presumed herbicide exposure. The claim for this condition is remanded for further clarification.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a respiratory disability due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination. The effective dates of service connection are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic muscle fatigue, left shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral leg disability due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, including addressing functional impairment during flare-ups and providing an estimate of the approximate date of onset of his knee instability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals as he withdrew all his pending appeals through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to deficiencies in a previous VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee/leg and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examination. The Veteran's lay testimony and personnel records suggest possible service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain, sciatic nerve paralysis (left lower extremity radiculopathy), left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia are being remanded due to procedural issues with the medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for mild degenerative changes of the left knee, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and remanded the issues of left knee condition and bilateral hip conditions due to insufficient opinions regarding aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability, is granted with separate ratings of 20% for locking and 10% for instability.,Entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus prior to January 15, 2021 is denied. The Board found the evidence did not show pronounced disability and thus only granted a 30 percent rating.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of current hearing loss related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome and left knee symptoms, have been granted. The rating for irritable bowel syndrome has been increased to 30 percent effective from April 28, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service department records and VA treatment records, as well as needing a new VA examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's left knee Osgood Schlatter disease.