Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral pes planus, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding records and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion and obtaining any outstanding VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding medical records and incomplete opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee receiving a maximum schedular rating of 30 percent for instability since August 12, 2021.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for painful motion, and his right knee disability is also rated at 10 percent for painful motion.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings on several service-connected conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's DJD of the left and right knees was rated at 10 percent from May 2, 2011 to November 17, 2013. From November 18, 2013, the ratings were denied as they did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder that is secondary to his service-connected left knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lower back, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology during service.

The Veteran's neck disability, psychiatric disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability are not found to have begun during service or be related to any event, injury, or disease during service.,A rating in excess of 0 percent for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of right knee DJD is not related to her active service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to her service-connected thoracolumbar strain.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated based on instability, with a separate rating for each knee. The Veteran is granted separate ratings of 10% for both knees from the specified dates.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, while service connection for right ear hearing loss has been denied.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar spine and right knee conditions have been restored or granted, with the exception of a remanded issue regarding lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for major depressive disorder, bilateral dry eye syndrome and chalazion of the left lower lid, and osteoarthritis of bilateral knees were also reopened.,Service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome and chalazion of the left lower lid is granted as secondary to service-connected blepharitis. Service connection for osteoarthritis of bilateral knees remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for insomnia is remanded due to a lack of recent examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for C2-C3 post traumatic neuralgia (diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the spine) is remanded because the VA examiner did not specifically address his claim and there was insufficient information about the location of his degenerative arthritis in the C2-C3 region.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for numbness left arm and right arm (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) are remanded due to a lack of recent examination and because the VA examiner did not provide a direct service connection opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for L3-L4 diffuse disc bulging/L2-L5 lumbar spondylosis is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding continuity of care after service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercalcemia (also claimed as a skin condition) is remanded because the VA examiner did not provide sufficient information about his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee chondromalacia is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding continuity of care after service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for abnormal myeloma cells (diagnosed as monoclonal gammopathy and leukopenia) is remanded because the VA examiner did not provide sufficient information about his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a right ear hearing loss disability. The issue of assigning a disability rating in excess of 0 percent for a left ear hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's right elbow, left elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for gout, right knee disability, asthma, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a colon disorder (to include as secondary to service-connected malaria or herbicide exposure), a left knee disorder, and a right knee disorder due to inadequate VA medical opinions.