Knee decisions — 2004

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee due to additional development and adjudication.

The Board has restored a 10 percent rating for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, finding that there is improvement in the veteran's condition and no longer warranting a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination of the left knee.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and residuals of fractures to the right knuckles, finding that these conditions had their origins in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to procedural deficiencies in VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia. The other claims related to hearing loss, postoperative right foot disability, and right knee disability are pending further development.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen any of the claims. The issues were related to residuals of a back injury and chronic pes planus.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination for his left knee disability. The RO will then re-adjudicate the claim on appeal.

The Board has decided that the case should be returned to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion from a suitable examiner regarding the relationship between the veteran's current right knee disorder and his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) by reason of service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical information and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for separate disability ratings for left upper and lower extremity residuals of a closed head injury, as well as an increased rating for right femoral fracture with knee and hip pain due to his failure to report for scheduled VA physical examinations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hand disability and right knee disability.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2003, for a higher evaluation of his left knee laxity is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies in the VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for retroactive payment of special monthly compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) prior to November 19, 2001 and also denied his claim regarding the propriety of terminating special monthly compensation effective January 1, 2003.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee, and cervical spine with neck spasms as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic left knee disability and generalized arthritis.

The Board has determined that additional clinical records are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person, as well as his claims under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for left below the knee amputation and left hip arthroplasty.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary development needs.