Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his current diagnosis of osteoarthritis is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities and service connection for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess the severity of his knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and right wrist disability are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and left ankle disorders as they are not shown to be causally related to service or secondary to his service-connected great toe disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities have been dismissed.,A claim to reopen a back disability has been remanded.

The Veteran's total right knee arthroplasty from June 14, 2017 is rated at 60 percent. The other conditions remain unchanged.

Service connection is granted for a left upper extremity nerve disability. The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder and anxiety, are granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral knee condition, vertigo, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The claim has been reopened, but service connection for a back disorder is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The Veteran's left knee disability remains in dispute with new examinations needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA could provide supportive evidence for some of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid claim for service connection for any of the conditions listed, as there is no evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the extent of functional loss during flare-ups and repeated use.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a rating in excess of 10 percent for dry eye syndrome, left eye, and ratings in excess of 20 percent for patellar tendinitis with retropatellar pain syndrome, left knee, and retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for his knee disabilities and reopening of a previously denied thoracolumbar spine disorder claim have been dismissed. The TDIU claim has also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for COPD, inguinal hernia, skin disability, and bilateral knee disability have been dismissed. The claim for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened but remains remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a neck disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and skin disorder. However, the claims of service connection for a pulmonary disorder and a left upper extremity neurological disorder remain denied.,New evidence submitted by the Veteran includes MRI findings supporting his claim for a neck disorder, statements from a private physician linking his knee disorders to in-service activities, and a statement from a private dermatologist linking his skin disorder to Vietnam service. The claims of service connection for these conditions are therefore reopened.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left clavicle or shoulder condition due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis as it was not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and a need for updated treatment records.

The Veteran's representative withdrew all the issues from the notice of disagreement, including entitlement to service connection for a parathyroid tumor, a low back condition, and increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease and right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.