Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and readjudication of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as a claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, are being remanded to allow for additional development.

The Veteran's left and right knee degenerative arthritis have been rated at 10 percent each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of limitation of flexion or extension beyond what is already contemplated by these ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining new examination reports and private treatment records. The Veteran's claims for increased rating of his left knee disability and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and degenerative joint disease, right knee status post tibial fracture were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and total knee replacement, has been rated at 60 percent since January 1, 2012. The appeal is granted for this rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the December 2016 VA examination, specifically regarding functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's shell fragment wounds have resulted in scars and other physical impairments, but the evidence does not support a compensable rating prior to September 29, 2016. After that date, there is no objective evidence of pain or instability on examination of his scars. For the period after September 29, 2016, the Veteran's shell fragment wounds have resulted in some functional impairment but not severe disability.,The Veteran's left shoulder injuries are currently rated as a deltoid strain and do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been manifested by painful noncompensable limitation of flexion to 80 degrees and painful cartilage removal, but without recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, dislocated cartilage, and frequent episodes of locking and effusion. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been evaluated at the maximum available rating since March 1, 2013. Prior to that date, he was already receiving the highest possible evaluation for his condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain adequate medical opinions detailing the nature and etiology of the appellant's disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied due to her failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in March 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, status post lumbar fusion was denied as there is no evidence showing forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative joint disease of the right knee was denied as there is no evidence showing flexion limited to 30 degrees, or extension limited to 15 degrees; or ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disabilities of the right upper extremity, left knee, and low back were not incurred during his honorable period of active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right and left knees, PTSD, and major depressive disorder have been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from an appropriate examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee condition and whether it is related to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for his residual scars of the left knee, service connection for a rectal/anal disorder (including hemorrhoids, anal fissure and anal stricture) and pilonidal cyst, and service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The claim to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his current disability picture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted. The claims for insomnia, high fever, gonorrhea, residuals of gunshot wound to the left knee, right elbow disorder, and residuals of injury to the left side of the neck are denied.