Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability and left knee arthritis are rated at the maximum allowable under current diagnostic codes. The Veteran’s residuals of shrapnel wound to the right hip affecting Muscle Group XIII and XVII and his left hip arthritis each receive a separate rating.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which rendered him unemployable. His TDIU claim for substitution purposes is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee chondromalacia patella, left knee chondromalacia patella, right knee lateral and medial instability, and left knee lateral and medial instability as new evidence was added to the record since the last SSOC.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional information regarding her occupational history and TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, major depressive disorder, and right knee status post ACL reconstruction due to insufficient evidence or further development being needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the right knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to the service-connected bilateral foot disability, finding that the Veteran's current right knee condition was worsened by his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not related to service or Agent Orange exposure. His hypertension is related to service. The right knee, abdominal pain (IBS), GERD, and dysphagia issues have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee chondromalacia, service connection for headaches and COPD have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for his right knee condition or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition and concluding that any current right knee disorder is not related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, as the evidence did not support that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury.,For right shoulder disability, the Veteran's current flexion and abduction were found to be within normal limits with no additional loss of range of motion. The Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted are not in compliance with the requirements set forth in Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017), and therefore, remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 19, 2015. The appeal is remanded for further examination regarding SMC due to the need for aid and attendance or housebound.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and left shoulder impingement syndrome. The right shoulder disability, right index finger disability, and the disability productive of diarrhea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show moderate instability, flexion limited to 45 degrees, or extension limited to 10 degrees.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examination regarding range of motion testing.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of such a condition or any symptoms reaching the level of functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The diagnoses are related to in-service duties and/or the service-connected low back sprain.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition, bilateral elbow condition, left ankle condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s right and left knee disabilities did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion or extension, but remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his service and grants entitlement to service connection.