Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated as 30% for limitation of extension, and a separate 20% rating has been granted for dislocated semilunar cartilage. The left knee disability is rated at 10% for instability. No higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the Veteran's statements about her symptoms since service.

The Veteran's left hip and right knee disabilities are not service-connected as they are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,A higher rating for the Veteran's chondromalacia patella, left knee with severe degenerative joint disease (status post total knee replacement) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knees disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic knee disorder in service and that any current osteoarthritis is more likely due to his age and BMI.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis. Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and PTSD). The Veteran's hearing loss and fibromyalgia claims are remanded. The rating of the Veteran's radiculopathy is also remanded. TDIU is remanded as it is intertwined with other issues.

The Board denied the severance of service connection for post-operative left and right knee DJD with history of chondromalacia, based on limitation of movement.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding that the Veteran's arthritis is likely due to his parachute jumping during active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for neuropathy of the right lower extremity and remanded the issues of service connection for low back condition, bilateral knee condition, and left lower extremity neuropathy due to secondary service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee condition has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been dismissed. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for mood disorder is denied, but a TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has denied the claims for lower back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's right thumb fracture with osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent since March 26, 2014. A rating in excess of 10 percent for his chondromalacia patella of the right knee is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not found new and material evidence to support these claims. The left shoulder disability claim is granted as there is now credible evidence of a current condition. The left knee disability, sinus disability (including sinusitis), sleep disorder (including sleep apnea and secondary to tinnitus), and hypertension claims are denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders due to insufficient medical examination and lack of rationale in the previous opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for neck arthritis. The issues of bilateral hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, and headaches secondary to neck arthritis are remanded.

The appeals for the claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of bilateral hips, knees, elbows, feet, hands, and shoulders have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for a low back disorder has been reopened but is still pending as it was remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for substance abuse, secondary to PTSD and increased rating for service connected PTSD. The Veteran's appeal for a 10 percent rating for his left thumb scar from November 4, 2009 to September 28, 2015 was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis and the Board found that his subjective complaints of pain alone do not constitute a disability.,For residuals of a right distal fibula fracture, prior to April 9, 2018, the Veteran's claim was denied as he did not have a marked ankle disability. Effective April 9, 2018, a rating of 30 percent was granted for malunion with marked ankle disability.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and hip disabilities were both denied as there is no evidence that the flexion limitation meets or exceeds the required criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not been manifested by flexion limited to 30 degrees or extension limited to 15 degrees, so the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.