Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's request for a compensable rating for his right fifth finger fracture is denied. The cases of left ankle Achilles tendonitis, right ankle Achilles tendonitis, and left knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder dislocation post avulsion fracture associated with right knee meniscus and ACL tear repair prior to August 31, 2023 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his right shoulder dislocation post avulsion fracture associated with right knee meniscus and ACL tear repair from August 31, 2023 onward is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is presumed related to service because pain and injury residuals are shown as chronic nine months post-service and manifested to a compensable degree within a presumptive period following separation from service. The Board finds that all elements of service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner and the need for a proper presumption of soundness analysis. The Veteran was found not to have had a pre-existing knee disability at entry into service, but he does have current diagnoses related to his knees.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current level of disability for left hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted earlier than August 9, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD is granted, and his headaches are not rated compensably. The bilateral knee disorder, left hip tenosynovitis with limitation of extension, left hip tenosynovitis with limited flexion, left hip tenosynovitis with painful motion, unspecified anxiety disorder, and TDIU issues have been remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The issues include lung conditions, skin conditions, sleep apnea, sinus/nasal condition, bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition, left knee condition, and bilateral foot condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 8, 2016. The evidence does not show that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and plantar fasciitis. The issues include increased ratings for PTSD, right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbar strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood to include traumatic brain injury was granted an initial rating of 70 percent. The Veteran's primary headaches were denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for spinal, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis has been dismissed. The cases for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees have been remanded, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of a compensable rating for residual scarring and HPV infection has been withdrawn.,The claim for an evaluation greater than 10 percent prior to January 29, 2021, for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence of occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with patellar tendonitis and left shoulder degenerative disc disease. The appeal regarding a left shoulder disability, neurologic is remanded.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is denied as there is no evidence it was caused or aggravated by service.,Ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis are denied as the current flexion and extension limitations do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee, bilateral hip, and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for the requested increased ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was restored to a 60 percent evaluation, effective January 1, 2019. Service connection for PTSD and other conditions were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to a fall he experienced while serving in Kuwait.