Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Veteran's left knee disability, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5260 (leg, limitation of flexion), has been found to not warrant a higher evaluation due to lack of compensable limitation of motion. The VA examiners have noted full range of motion with no additional loss upon repetitive use.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities resulted from injuries sustained during a period of inactive duty training in April 1997. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a dental avulsion, secondary to left tibial fracture. The claims for increased evaluations of various disabilities have also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but denied the claims for left knee and upper back disabilities. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for recurrent right foot strain is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness for wartime service, but also noted that the Veteran's arthritis likely pre-existed his military service. The examiner concluded that the right knee disability clearly existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left knee injury, post anterior cruciate ligament repair, has been manifested by flexion limited to at worst 135 degrees and normal extension. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete examination reports and outstanding private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right shoulder and left knee were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20% for his right knee osteoarthritis, which was granted with a 20% evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the right shoulder disability was granted prior to January 13, 2012, but denied thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and propriety of assigned ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his right knee disability and for obtaining relevant ongoing medical records.

The Veteran was granted service connection for depression. The Board also addressed other claims but deferred a decision pending further case development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying the in-service stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40 percent effective January 3, 2014. His right and left knee disabilities were each assigned a separate 10 percent rating as of the same date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claim for a higher rating for right knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that additional action is required due to the lack of service treatment records and has ordered their retrieval from various sources. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a left knee lateral collateral ligament strain and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of flexion limited to 60 degrees or less, extension limited to 5 degrees or less, objectively determined recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, objectively determined dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion into the joint, removal of semilunar cartilage, ankylosis, tibia or fibular impairment, or genu recurvatum. The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not manifested by these findings.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent since October 18, 2007. The appeal is granted for the right and left knee stress fractures with degenerative joint disease as well as right and left knee laxity.