Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and a comprehensive examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the right knee rating issue.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for low back strain and remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disorder, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and IVDS. The Veteran is also in receipt of Social Security Administration disability benefits but his SSA records have not been associated with the file.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities, as well as other issues. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal of these issues at a hearing.,A claim of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability has been reopened due to new evidence. The Veteran's neck disability is found to be related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to new evidence being added to his file, including VA treatment records. The claims include service connection for various conditions related to scleroderma and other disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip and leg, right knee status post total knee replacement, and left shoulder osteoarthritis as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claims for bladder cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the legs are remanded due to insufficient information regarding in-service exposure to herbicide agents or formaldehyde.

The Veteran's service connection claim for psychosis or mental illness, left and right hip disability, major depressive disorder, and entitlement to TDIU is denied as he did not have qualifying wartime service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating for arthritis with frequent episodes of locking and pain. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no additional functional loss due to instability or other factors.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disability and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left and right knee chondromalacia patella disabilities have not been found to warrant a rating higher than the currently assigned 10 percent disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hip disability, right ear hearing loss, or right knee disability. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, headaches, and left knee disability. The RO will also obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no probative evidence of current TBI, chloracne, an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, or peripheral neuropathy of the right upper or lower extremity. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was not granted, and his claim for an increased rating for left knee disability remains denied. His TDIU claim is partially granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection, including for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, right knee disability, degenerative arthritis of the left glenohumeral joint, degenerative arthritis of the left acromioclavicular joint, neck disability, and vision disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by pain and patella femoral syndrome, warranting a 10% initial rating.

The Veteran's right hand injury and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are both rated at 10 percent, but the Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for the right hand injury due to additional functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee were granted service connection as being proximately caused by his service-connected lumbar sprain/strain. An increased rating to 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity from May 5, 2015 is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran’s assertions regarding his claimed disabilities, and there was insufficient medical evidence linking any current disability to service.