Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been remanded due to the issue being intertwined with a separate claim regarding residuals of TBI with dizziness.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disability and for increased ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthropathy have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis or unfavorable ankylosis, and thus no higher rating is warranted.,Service connection for liver disorder was denied as there was no indication of any in-service event, injury, or disease related to this condition.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10% each, but the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a higher rating based on functional loss or other criteria.

The Veteran's increased ratings requests for his ankle, knee, and shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The current 20 percent ratings for right ankle and left knee disabilities are upheld, while the rating for right knee disability is maintained at 30 percent. Right shoulder dislocations remain rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral ankle pain. The claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral ankle pain are remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for scar, left elbow ulnar nerve repositioning is denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder bursitis, left knee strain, and right knee strain.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a below-knee amputation of the right leg due to VA treatment directing the cessation of Plavix was denied as there is no evidence that discontinuance of Plavix caused the amputation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of reopening his left knee disability and established service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to aggravation during service.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, including post-total right knee replacement. The issues on appeal include ratings for right knee instability and osteochondritis dessicans prior to June 23, 2017, as well as a higher rating for post-total right knee replacement beginning August 1, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet and a left knee condition due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disability is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.,The Veteran's service connection claim for malignant liposarcoma (claimed as lipoma) is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination reports and requests for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for a new examination to assess the Veteran's current right knee conditions and their impact on his functional ability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for tick bite and related blood infection is denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran has not provided any medical opinion connecting the current arthritis, hand, knee, neck, or psoriatic arthritis disabilities to a tick bite or strep infection during service.

The Veteran's appeals for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, bilateral leg tingling, and increased rating for left knee scar have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depression.

The Veteran's left knee and right knee conditions are rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to the nature of the disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot condition and left knee condition, finding no evidence linking the conditions to military service.,Service connection was also not granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and alcohol abuse).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for neck, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury or disease.