Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information from a previous VA examination regarding the Veteran's right knee flare-ups and their impact on range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for status post arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy of the left knee and a higher initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of left knee partial meniscectomy (extension) associated with status post arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy left knee. The remand is due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee degenerative arthritis is related to his active duty service.,Service connection was also granted for hepatitis C, but the Board found no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the left knee, right knee, and left elbow. The Veteran's wrist condition did not meet the criteria for a rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorder, sinus disability, nocturia, altered gait, right ear growth, left knee strain, gynecomastia, inguinal hernia, priapism, bilateral pulmonary embolism, parotid neoplasms, and hepatitis C have been denied. The Board found no evidence of service connection or secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address service connection and rating issues related to COPD, low back disorder, left knee strain, and left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee chondromalacia, and related disabilities. The issues include reopening the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, seeking earlier effective dates for right and left knee chondromalacia, rating adjustments for these conditions, and a TDIU determination prior to December 5, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, left knee tendonitis, and traumatic arthritis of bilateral big toes due to incomplete examination reports and lack of range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate prior examinations, and a new examination is required to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee strain with arthritis with limitation of flexion.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee, back, ankle sprain, cluster headaches, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The examinations will help determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened since his last evaluations.

The Board has found the Veteran's lay reports describing his right knee condition and associated functional impairment to be credible. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the July 2021 examiner.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the condition presumed due to combat exposure in Vietnam.,Service connection for pulmonary fibrosis is granted based on herbicide agent exposure during service. The Veteran also has hypertension and left knee disability that are remanded for further review.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II, is granted as service-connected based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are not adequate, necessitating further clarification of the medical evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee sprain, left hip limitation of flexion, left hip limitation of extension, and left hip strain require further examination to determine their current severity. Additionally, a TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for proper notice and development.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, as the current evidence does not provide clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition preexisted service or that it was aggravated in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back injury and head injury have been reopened, with new evidence showing current diagnoses of lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as continuity of symptoms since in-service injuries. The claim for bilateral hearing loss has not met VA criteria.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, residuals of head injury (including memory loss), and headaches have been remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Veteran's initial 60 percent disability rating for service-connected gout is granted, and a separate 10 percent rating for each knee due to shin splints is also granted. The appeal regarding tinnitus, increased ratings for the bilateral foot disability, TDIU, and service connection for shin splints is remanded.