Knee decisions — 2021

Service connection for a left knee disability is granted.,Service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's right knee instability is now rated at 10 percent effective October 31, 2016. From December 28, 2020, the rating for his right knee instability has been increased to 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service and that the current diagnosis is not causally related to service.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his flexion does not limit to less than 30 degrees.,Prior to May 18, 2016, the Veteran's left knee arthritis was rated at 10 percent. After that date, it is rated at 20 percent. The Board found no evidence of limitation of motion more nearly approximating flexion limited to 15 degrees or less.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hand disabilities as well as hypertension. The claims were based on the Veteran's assertions of continuity of symptomatology since service but these were not supported by medical evidence or consistent with his prior statements.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's left knee partial meniscectomy is granted a separate 10% rating.

The Veteran's right knee, hip and lumbar spine disorders are granted as secondary to his service-connected right foot injury.,An increased rating of 20 percent for the Veteran’s right foot disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for several of the issues on appeal. The claims must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, as well as any aggravation or secondary service connection.,The Board also notes that some of the issues have not been fully developed with respect to obtaining treatment records and other evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeals on all issues related to service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous medical opinion and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed all reopened service connection claims for various conditions, including back pain, hip conditions, diabetes, and hypertension. The decision also dismissed the claim for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to an in-service fall/injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from June 12, 2011 to October 19, 2015 due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee DJD resulted in flexion between 45 degrees and 100 degrees, with no evidence of ankylosis. The Board denied a higher initial rating for the period from June 2, 2011 to June 18, 2018 due to lack of compensable disability ratings.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability, needs further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a higher rating from November 8, 2004. A TDIU was denied prior to August 16, 2005 and granted thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and incomplete service records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disability, which he contends was caused by running on rocky dirt roads during his deployment in Afghanistan.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell and taste, sleep disorder, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left foot disability. The Veteran is to be afforded VA examinations to address the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The right knee patellar tendonitis is rated at 10 percent, while the left knee patellar tendonitis is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's pinguecula is remanded for further examination to determine its likely cause.,The Veteran's left ankle disability, loss of sensation in the left and right hands, acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety and depressive disorder), left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability are all remanded as they may be related to his service-connected back disability. The Veteran also has other issues that need examination including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis based on limitation of flexion and extension is remanded for further examination.