Knee decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee injuries, to include arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease during or within one year after service and concluding that his current osteoarthritis is more likely due to obesity and aging rather than military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative joint disease, and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and hearing loss due to additional development being needed, including obtaining private treatment records from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, as well as his right shoulder osteoarthritis with replacement, were denied. The rating decisions maintained existing disability evaluations.

A rating of 40 percent for right knee arthritis with limitation of extension is granted from June 25, 2008 to July 10, 2018.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative medial meniscus (other than based on arthritis) is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral total knee arthroplasty is related to injuries sustained during service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for athlete's foot and scar disabilities, but has remanded the cases of back disability, dental condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint and muscle pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of right hip and knee disabilities due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional evidence is needed, including VA treatment records from Memphis Vista and Chicago Vista electronic systems.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for ratings related to his left knee conditions need further development and are therefore remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition, left knee condition, and degenerative arthritis of the spine (back condition). The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.,There was no direct evidence linking the Veteran’s current disabilities to his service. However, the Board found that the Veteran had complaints of knee pain during service and after discharge, which led to a thorough review of medical records and opinions from VA and private physicians.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, left arm, right arm, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these disabilities. The claims are inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for a neck condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include his left knee, back condition, right hip condition, right foot condition, and sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the right knee, hallux valgus or bunions on both feet, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these disabilities were related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of right knee joint osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected left foot drop.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. Parkinson's disease is also remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and will be considered on the merits. The Board is unable to make a fully-informed decision without additional medical evidence regarding whether his current psychiatric condition is related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current disability in either ear, and any pre-existing left ear hearing loss did not worsen during service.