Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent for the entire appeal period, but a higher rating is denied.,For the right shoulder condition, a 20 percent initial rating was granted effective August 11, 2020. A higher rating is denied prior to that date and from August 11, 2020 onwards.,The Veteran's right knee condition does not warrant an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's right ankle degenerative joint disease does not warrant a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left and right knees, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current knee conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided in October 2019 were inadequate for adjudicative purposes. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to provide addendum VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including right ear hearing loss, low back condition, left knee condition, left hip condition, cholecystitis, and GERD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his in-service injury and noting inconsistent statements from the Veteran regarding when he first experienced symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have chronic or recurrent symptoms prior to post-service injuries. The VA examiners provided significant probative value in their opinions.,Service connection was also remanded for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient reasoning in a previous medical opinion. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral shin splints due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for hemorrhoidal and knee cream is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA Handbook sections.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left and right knee disabilities, as well as their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding that her condition manifested with limitation of flexion of 30 degrees or less at any time during the appeal period, warranting the higher 20 percent evaluation under DC 5260. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder (including sciatica) was remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly address the Veteran's right knee/leg disability claim, as there are gaps in the medical evidence and inconsistencies with previous opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ankle sprains and plantar fasciitis. Service connection for a kidney condition is denied.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left and right knee injuries with chondromalacia patella, as well as separate instability ratings, were denied. The Veteran was granted separate 10% ratings for left and right knee instability.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) as the evidence did not show a link to service or any other presumptive period.

The Veteran's right knee condition began during active duty service and is granted for service connection. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded due to worsening since the last VA examination.

The Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected knee disabilities prior to April 7, 2015. The Board found that the evidence showed his service-connected knee disabilities precluded him from securing or following such an occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to lack of STRs and need for further examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, as well as his claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee and heel disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide new evidence regarding his claim of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. For the left knee disability with limitation of motion prior to September 27, 2016, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to noncompensable limitation of motion. For residuals of total left knee replacement surgery from November 1, 2017, a rating in excess of 30 percent is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that his current conditions are related to his active duty service.