Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of his disabilities, particularly after a recent VA examination.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability. The remaining issues of service connection and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral blepharoconjunctivitis are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.,The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable disability ratings for chondromalacia patella syndrome (right knee) and tendonitis (left shoulder), as well as an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraines, chronic sinusitis, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood have been remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating, and his lumbar spine disability prior to March 11, 2019 remains denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to service, while his bilateral hip, left knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are not. The Board has remanded the issue of a left-hand disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient development and lack of opinions regarding the etiology of the left knee and left foot disorders. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder is believed to be related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the failure to provide adequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and need for clarification on specific diagnoses and their etiology.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent since March 18, 2020. He is also granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for limitation of extension of the left knee.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia, as well as his thoracolumbar spine disability (DDD and IVDS), are granted initial minimum compensable ratings for the period prior to April 14, 2017.,For the period from July 11, 2011 to April 13, 2017, the Veteran's left shoulder calcific tendonitis is granted a minimum compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 8, 2017 to December 26, 2017. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated at Level I, which does not warrant a compensable rating. The right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for disability.,The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran is required to provide releases for private treatment records, including those from Drs. P., F., J., K.E., M.D., and L.B., M.D. A new VA examination must be conducted to assess the current severity of his right knee and bilateral tibia disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for asthma and right knee meniscal maceration medial and lateral with osteoarthritis has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate VA opinions and factual inaccuracies in previous decisions.

The Board has awarded a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability from May 11, 2015. However, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains pending and requires further examination to determine if a greater rating is warranted under the revised version of DC 5257.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The cases of knee disability, back disability, bilateral hip radiculopathy (claimed), and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been denied as her service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for additional development, including clarification of the Veteran's periods of active duty and National Guard service.