Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's left knee strain was granted a rating of 20 percent from March 27, 2020, for cartilage damage with effusion into the joint, instability, and limitation of extension during flare-ups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, cervical spine disability, hemorrhoids, and chronic fatigue syndrome (due to Gulf War service). The decision also notes that the Veteran's claim for sinusitis is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remands. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned to VA for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability and whether he experiences flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a retrospective VA examination regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically focusing on functional loss from April 26, 2011 forward. The appeal is currently pending further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of his lower back, right ring finger, right knee, and right foot disabilities.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical treatment received at Banner Del Webb Medical Center on October 15, 2011 due to a prudent layperson's expectation that immediate medical attention was necessary.

The Board denied service connection for hernia disability and left knee disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion during flexion, and a separate rating of 20 percent is granted for dislocation of semilunar cartilage.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted his active service, and if it did, whether it was aggravated by service. Another VA addendum opinion is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities, as well as his left and right knee disabilities, are all granted service connection. The Veteran's cervical spine and back conditions, as well as his asthma, are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected lateral instability of the left knee due to incomplete testing in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for a left knee disability is granted. An initial increased rating of 30 percent for his service-connected muscle herniation with scars is granted, but the issue remains on appeal as only part of the period on appeal has been addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, left total knee replacement, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.