Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's arthritis of the knees, hands, and elbows. Additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection and rating of disabilities.

All issues related to knee arthritis and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development. The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. Service connection for diabetic nephropathy is granted with an effective date of December 6, 2016.

The claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and back disorders are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement is granted a 60 percent rating since August 1, 2016. The Veteran's right knee arthritis with limitation of motion (flexion) and right leg limitation of extension are each granted a 10 percent rating prior to June 2, 2015. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for the right knee meniscus condition prior to June 2, 2015.

The Board denied extraschedular evaluations for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that the symptoms are already contemplated by the assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded three cases involving the Veteran's elbow and bilateral knees due to incomplete range of motion testing in previous examinations. The claims are being returned for further examination.

The Board has decided that a left knee disorder may be related to the service-connected right knee disability, but more evidence is needed to make this determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in some cases and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in the right ear and no worse than Level I in the left ear. The criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met.,The claims for entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, a right knee condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), onychomycosis (jungle rot), lichen simplex chronicus (skin disorder on the left scalp), and hypertension are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.,The Veteran's main complaint is effectively reduced hearing acuity and clarity, which is what is contemplated in the rating assigned for bilateral hearing loss. The preponderance of the most probative evidence is against the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating.,For his jungle rot, he reported it started in Taiwan in 1968 and was treated with cream. For the left scalp, he reported receiving cream for it in Thailand and that it would recur. He further indicated that he had a shaving profile for PFB in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The right shoulder trauma claim is granted, while other psychiatric, back, knee, and neck disorders remain pending.

The Veteran's right knee pain and headaches have been found to be related to service, resulting in the grant of service connection for these conditions.,Service connection has also been granted for a chronic disability manifested by shortness of breath, but the issue is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain with trace retrolisthesis at L3, L4, and L4-5 and segmental instability (low back disability) as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or contributed to her current hypertension.,There is no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, knee disabilities, pes planus, or cardiac disability that could be attributed to active service.,The Veteran does not have and has not been diagnosed as having a heart condition due to her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle tendonitis and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee condition. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities based on evidence showing these conditions are related to the Veteran's period of active duty.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the possibility that his service-connected disabilities, especially depression, may have caused or affected his unemployment. The increased rating for depression disorder with anxiety (now claimed to include a dental condition) associated with right-knee degenerative joint disease and other conditions is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, left eye cataract, and diabetic retinopathy of left eye due to insufficient development.

Your appeal has been remanded to the AOJ for additional development and consideration of your service connection claims. You are required to provide information about any healthcare providers who have treated you, and all outstanding VA medical records must be obtained.