Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has denied higher ratings for the Veteran's left knee surgical scar and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, but remanded his claims for increased rating for post-operative residuals of right knee injury and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his active duty service or any service-connected conditions and his current condition. The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran’s left knee arthritis was caused by or aggravated by his right ankle and/or right knee disabilities.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, including as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, is denied. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an orchiectomy of the left testicle is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, tinnitus, PTSD, and left knee disability. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee meniscectomy residuals were aggravated by service. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and left knee disability for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The low back disability claim is referred to the AOJ as it was raised but not adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, thoracic spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, degenerative joint disease of the ankles, muscular disorder, diabetes mellitus, and multiple sclerosis, have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The claims of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 70 percent for MDD with alcohol abuse, and in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with reactive airway disease are remanded. The claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for chronic tonsillitis, service connection for a left knee disability, service connection for a right shoulder disability, and service connection for a cardiac disorder are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of right knee surgery and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee arthritis due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings of his right shoulder and left knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective April 1, 2010. His left knee disability remains at a 30 percent rating since July 12, 2012.

The Veteran's total left knee replacement is granted with a 100% rating effective March 5, 2018. The Board has also remanded the issues of higher ratings for his left knee instability and partial meniscectomy conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his degenerative joint disease of both knees, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for their service-connected left knee disability was denied. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for the portion of the disability manifested by limited extension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability and an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current disabilities and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for vascular dementia, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral flat foot, left foot disability, right foot disability, and fungus on bilateral toes and feet due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, left middle finger condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and right knee sprain is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations due to difficulty in assessing his bilateral hip, knee, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for a surgical scar of the right ankle is granted. The Board also remanded two issues: service connection for a right knee disorder (secondary to the service-connected residuals of fracture of the right ankle) and an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of fracture of the right ankle.