Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have been denied. The VA has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current manifestations of his left and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a 10 percent rating for instability, and the Board has remanded the TDIU claim. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee replacement, cervical spine disorder (including cervical strain, cervical degenerative spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease with stenosis and myelopathy), right shoulder calcific bursitis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right cervical radiculopathy, left cervical radiculopathy, right wrist strain, left wrist strain, right hand strain, and left hand strain are all granted. The Veteran's foot disorder other than bilateral pes planus and back disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those of the right and left hands, knees, ankles, and a cardiac condition. The issues are related to toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The issues include cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically during flare-ups and after repetition over time.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence indicating a current left knee disorder and functional impairment, requiring another VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hepatitis residuals and right knee degenerative arthritis are both granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least as likely as not that these conditions were incurred during military service.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of increased ratings for PTSD, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete record, specifically the October 2014 X-ray report of the Veteran's left knee. The Veteran is asked to provide any relevant private or VA treatment records and for attempts to obtain federal records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, if the Veteran does not meet schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain, instability of the left knee, and left ankle sprain are being remanded due to inadequate examinations in previous VA evaluations. The Veteran will need new examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as the combined disability evaluation exceeds the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vision loss, need further review due to potential death of the Veteran. The appeal is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and COPD, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee meniscectomy and degenerative arthritis should be remanded for further examination to assess their current severity. The restoration of a separate 10 percent rating for right knee meniscectomy under Diagnostic Code 5257 is granted, while the issue regarding a higher disability rating for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis remains pending and will be addressed in the remand section. A 10 percent rating for painful right knee scars is also granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and cognitive impairment (memory loss) disabilities are all granted as service-connected.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's post-operative medial meniscotomy of the right knee, finding that his disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on specific diagnostic codes.