Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as patellofemoral pain syndrome, has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The most limited range of motion for flexion was found to be 0 to 125 degrees and for extension was 111 to 0 degrees during a June 2017 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues on appeal except for entitlement to an increased rating of his low back disability. The claim for TDIU was raised in conjunction with this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection have been granted. He is now rated at 20 percent for his left knee internal derangement, with a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of motion associated with arthritis. Service connection has also been established for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to aggravation by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a videoconference hearing at the local St. Petersburg RO.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disabilities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), cognitive disorder, NOS, and left knee disability on the basis that these conditions are proximately due to a service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The appeal is for a higher rating, but the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and functional limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to bring his combined rating to 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or higher; these service-connected disabilities preclude the Veteran from maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and assigning separate disability ratings for the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right leg disability, including a right knee disability. The evidence does not establish that any current condition is related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and personnel records related to the Veteran's service in January 1983 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination of his right knee disabilities and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected knee and back disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain the Veteran's Army Reserve records and to provide addendum medical etiology opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disability and chronic respiratory disability did not begin during service or are otherwise related to service, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted, with the effective date being determined by the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and hip disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service fall and subsequent development of these conditions. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim was also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence for an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities, as well as her back disability, are being remanded to obtain additional VA examinations and to ensure that all relevant records have been obtained.