Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and cartilage removal with residuals, has been granted separate ratings of 30 percent for instability and 10 percent for the removal of cartilage. The initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 22, 2016, cervical spine disability was denied, as were increased ratings from December 22, 2016, to November 8, 2020, and thereafter for the same condition. The Veteran's lumbar spine sprain has not met criteria for an initial rating greater than 10 percent prior to December 22, 2016, or increased ratings from December 22, 2016, to November 8, 2020, and thereafter. Right shoulder degenerative arthritis was denied for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent, but granted a 30 percent rating starting from December 22, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities have been denied. The RO has already granted the maximum 100 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5055 for right and left total knee replacements, effective from September 6, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tonic clonic seizures and multiple knee and thigh conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a neurologic disorder, right and left shoulder, knee, hip, and ear disabilities. The Veteran contends that these conditions are related to his in-service deep-sea diving experience.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various spinal and knee disorders, as well as a sarcoma of the neck. The VA will conduct further development to obtain relevant records and provide additional examinations to address the issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran served as an infantryman with multiple parachute jumps, which may be relevant to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to untranslated Spanish documents in the claims folder.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation throughout the appeal period, which is the maximum rating authorized for tinnitus under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260.,The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and contends that his current hearing loss was caused by in-service exposure to excessive noise. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the current hearing loss disability is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, neck disability, and back disability. The VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities is inadequate, and a new medical opinion should be obtained on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus. The right and left knee conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, or patellar instability to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, back, left knee, and right knee disorders due to potential service connection based on secondary theory. The Veteran's pes planus is presumed to be related to his claimed conditions.

The 10 percent ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are restored effective June 1, 2015. The Board has also remanded the issues of higher ratings for limitation of motion of both knees.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to inconsistencies in the VA examinations and the need for clarification of the Veteran's assertions regarding joint pain beginning in service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, including erosive gastritis, is granted service connection. The right and left hand arthritis are denied as not related to service. Right knee and left knee osteoarthritis and sleep apnea are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability. The right hip and back disabilities are remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all nine issues is remanded due to incomplete factual predicates and the need for new VA opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine is found to be causally related to his periods of active duty, and it is granted as secondary to this condition. The same reasoning applies to his bilateral hip osteoarthritis, which is also granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.