Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the extent of his right knee disability and determine any functional loss due to pain or flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The Board found that there is no evidence linking this condition to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for upper airway resistance syndrome, right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and a claim for a 10 percent rating based on multiple non-compensable service-connected disabilities have been withdrawn. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and necessary adaptive equipment is denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria due to lack of loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet or hands, or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including TDIU, PTSD evaluations, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, has been rated at the lowest possible level (10%) since October 2008. The current examination findings do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hip disorders were denied as there is no current diagnosis of a left knee, right knee, or left hip disorder at any time during the pendency of this appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of a right clavicle fracture was denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of an initial compensable rating as there are no chronic residuals of a right clavicle fracture and the Veteran reported that his right clavicle disability did not bother him.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for degenerative joint disease, sacroiliac joint, and pubic symphysis, right hip was denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of an initial compensable rating as there is no limitation of motion in the right hip.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for status post-dislocation, left shoulder, since June 6, 2017, was denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of a higher rating as there are no chronic residuals of a left shoulder dislocation and the Veteran reported that his left shoulder disability did not bother him.

The Veteran's joint pain, left knee disorder, and left hip disorder were not found to be related to service or the Persian Gulf War. The Board denied these claims as there was no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability for service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, either on a direct basis or as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have not met the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261, except for slight instability in the right knee prior to February 14, 2017. The Veteran is therefore denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia patella and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are currently rated at 10 percent, effective May 23, 2017. The limitation of extension of the right leg is also rated at 10 percent, effective May 23, 2017.

The Veteran's bilateral knee valgus instability is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative changes remains at a 10 percent rating.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee and low back disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD, hypertension, venous insufficiency, and other respiratory, skin, ankle, foot, knee, and erectile dysfunction conditions are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 60 percent, the highest available under Diagnostic Code 5055. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis and bilateral hip disability are at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected right knee arthritis, s/p arthroscopic surgery.