Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury with memory loss is denied as he does not have such residuals. The claims for PTSD, right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, thoracic spine scoliosis (claimed as trauma to the spine), and left ear hearing loss are all remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability of status post medical meniscectomy and chondromalacia, but denied service connection for a lower back disorder.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected right knee instability and granted a separate compensable rating for the Veteran's semilunar cartilage condition. The right knee instability was rated as slight throughout the appeal period, while the semilunar cartilage condition resulted in frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been reopened. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure during active service.

The Veteran's depression is not a separate disability from his PTSD. The right radial nerve paralysis warrants a 50% rating since November 14, 2016. The Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disorders, as well as a left knee disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied extensions of temporary total ratings for convalescence following surgeries on June 10, 2013 and September 20, 2013, as the evidence did not show severe postoperative residuals or immobilization by cast.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating for adjustment disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and patellofemoral arthritis, is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and her military service.

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

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left ankle disability due to insufficient medical evidence. The VA will provide additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on frequent episodes of locking, pain, and swelling. The Board has granted increased ratings for the left and right knees but not higher than 20 percent each. Separate ratings were assigned for painful scarring associated with arthroscopic repair of the knees. A 70 percent rating was granted for PTSD effective July 7, 2011. Other issues related to hearing loss and COPD are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically his claim for service connection. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s left knee disability is related to a 1991 injury while on inactive duty for training.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no direct link between the current diagnoses and service-connected shell fragment wounds.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right foot, left knee, head injury residuals, and jaw disabilities have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the onset and etiology of any current bilateral knee disability, including whether it is related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The claims to reopen service connection for degenerative changes and muscle spasms, right knee condition, and mental condition (claimed as parasomnia) are granted. The Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has found that the appellant's service treatment records are incomplete and requires further development to obtain his complete service treatment records, including those from his first period of Marine Corps service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional records and readjudication of previous appeals. The Veteran was previously awarded clothing allowances in 2012 and 2013, but the North Texas HCS should obtain these records and combine them with the current 2015 appeal.