Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period of August 14, 2014 to December 23, 2015, the Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 20 percent for locking, pain, and effusion with non-compensable limitation of motion and pain. A separate rating of 10 percent is granted from April 1, 2016 to June 22, 2016 for symptomatic, partially removed meniscus.,From October 1, 2016 to July 23, 2017, the Veteran received a temporary 100 percent rating due to partial knee replacement. From July 24, 2017 to July 17, 2018, he was rated at 60 percent for partial meniscectomy and partial knee replacement. Since September 2, 2019, the Veteran has been rated at 60 percent for total knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral tinea pedis, a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus for further action due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left and right knee chondromalacia patella disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations for his knees and provide additional information regarding his employment status.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to assess her current functional limitations and etiology of her psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the left knee condition since February 18, 2020. The Veteran's earlier findings of limitation of extension were considered in establishing this increased rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were granted increased ratings, with the right knee instability rating effective from February 6, 2013. Bilateral knee scars received a non-compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and remanded other issues including rating increases, effective date determinations, and service connection claims.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for tension headaches was denied as his headaches did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for a right knee disability secondary to service-connected left knee chondromalacia was also denied due to insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and increased the rating for right shoulder strain, impingement syndrome, and tenosynovitis to 20 percent. The ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis were also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is secondary to his service-connected left ankle and left lower extremity restless leg syndrome conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of an increased evaluation for osteoarthritis of the right knee and a TDIU claim due to new evidence indicating that the Veteran's disability may have worsened since his last examination. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability, including testing active motion, passive motion, pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing, as well as information regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis were previously denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 10, 2017, and a rating in excess of 30 percent from that date. The right knee disability was also remanded for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis were previously denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 10, 2017, and a rating in excess of 30 percent from that date. The right knee disability was also remanded for further development.

Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia patella and left knee instability is remanded.,The Veteran's claims are currently under review, with the decision on these issues being deferred until all necessary records have been obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional evidence being added to the record since the December 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran and his representative will be provided a supplemental statement of the case with consideration of all new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and right knee disorder due to secondary service connection. The case requires an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by the service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran's right knee instability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected knee, ankle, and foot disabilities have been granted earlier effective dates of March 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran is seeking a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 29, 2008. The Board has determined that the claim should be remanded for further development and consideration by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including those related to exposure to environmental contaminants in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during his Persian Gulf War service, is being remanded due to insufficient rationale and conflicting information provided by previous VA examiners. The Board requests new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these claims.