Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination by an orthopedic specialist to assess his service-connected right knee condition. The TDIU and DEA benefits claims are also being remanded.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee scar, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his lay contentions of in-service injuries and their progression.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disabilities and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,An effective date prior to June 5, 2019 is denied for the grant of service connection for left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears and strain with osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information in his initial notice of disagreement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings must be remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The issues are related, so a remand is required for all of them.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis is granted. The case is also remanded for further development regarding a leg length discrepancy and back disability secondary to the left knee surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU since December 6, 2016. Effective December 6, 2016, the Veteran is also granted SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his bilateral knee conditions due to a lack of adequate examination and because the regional office issued a rating decision that did not constitute full grants of the benefits sought.

The Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities, and thus remands the cases for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 10% rating effective June 5, 2020. The left knee instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage are each granted a 30% rating effective June 5, 2020. The low back disability, right sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy are all granted 40% ratings effective June 5, 2020.,TDIU from March 31, 2010 to April 6, 2015, and August 2, 2016 to July 5, 2017 is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and left knee disability due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide any STRs in his possession.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee condition, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a nexus between his current disability and any in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee osteoarthritis, finding that it was not incurred in or due to his time in service and is not proximately due to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee strain post medial meniscectomy is rated at a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for left knee instability and flexion limitation prior to September 14, 2015, hypertension within one year of separation from service, and TDIU prior to September 1, 2014. The Veteran's claim is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition was rated at 10% prior to November 14, 2017. From November 14, 2017, until December 1, 2019, the Veteran's lumbar spine condition warranted a 20% rating.,The Veteran's cervical spine condition was rated at 10% prior to December 1, 2019. The Veteran's left knee condition was also rated at 10% prior to December 1, 2019.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran experienced noise exposure in service, which is conceded.,Service connection for a bilateral foot condition and right and left knee conditions are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of right knee chronic osteoarthritis, diverticulitis due to an undiagnosed illness, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to an undiagnosed illness because the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for left knee disorder and right knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.