Knee Board decisions

The Board determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right leg mid-shaft tibia/fibula fracture was denied. The disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, it denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and instability, does not warrant a higher rating as the evidence shows no more than moderate limitation of flexion or extension, and slight instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his knee conditions, including any potential need for right knee replacement surgery.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for chondromalacia patella of the left knee based on dislocation and effusion, and has awarded a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of extension. Service connection for hepatitis C is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The right knee disability issue remains pending.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and SMC based on aid and attendance, and the Board dismissed these issues. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability and consideration of TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's current back and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for his residual surgical scar of the left knee patella was granted, while service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased rating was denied as the evidence did not show a formal or informal claim prior to February 10, 2009. The surgery that led to the increase in disability occurred on July 30, 2007, but no VA records from this period were found.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis has been manifested by objective evidence of arthritis, flexion limited to no less than 90 degrees. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are not related to his military service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left leg disabilities were denied. The residuals of a fractured tibia and fibula with shortening of the left leg, peroneal nerve damage, and osteoarthritis of the left knee joint have not been productive of ankylosis or other disabling conditions warranting higher ratings.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence fails to demonstrate any current residuals related to the Veteran's right mandibular angle fracture, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the residuals of a right knee injury, status post medial plica repair, more nearly approximated the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5258 (dislocated semilunar cartilage) than the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5259 (symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage).

The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the AOJ for scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for right knee disability and service connection for neck disability are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, and separate evaluation for limitation of motion (left knee) were denied. The Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine prior to November 20, 2015, and a 10 percent rating thereafter.