Knee decisions — 2006

The Board denied the claims for service connection for cause of death, dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of evidence showing a causal link between the veteran's service-connected conditions and her death.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to missing records and the need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left knee disability or latex allergy related to her military service and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the low back, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The application to reopen claims for bilateral leg disorder and low back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are denied as the RO failed to consider whether there was improvement in the veteran's bilateral knee instability.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected postoperative residuals of an arthrotomy of the right knee, effective as of the date of the appealed rating decision.

The veteran's appeal regarding an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the residuals of a right knee meniscus injury has been dismissed as he did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder with a subchondral abnormality, but denied the claims for shoulder, right knee, ankle, and cervical spine disorders due to lack of current disability.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the claims for service connection for residuals of a left shoulder injury, arthritis of the right shoulder, and bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and no new or material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for a left ankle disability. The other claims were also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an increased evaluation for his left knee disability, and entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD prior to June 9, 2000. The effective date of the 100% evaluation for PTSD was set at June 9, 2000.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability. The RO previously denied this claim in an August 1954 rating decision, which was final.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current eye and knee conditions to his military service, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and right knee disability, to include arthritis, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with proper notice.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to her disabilities, which do not render her unable to care for most of her daily needs without requiring A&A.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development of his medical records.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as his combined rating is less than the required 70% for TDIU.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings of PTSD, increased ratings for SFW scars on various body parts, and service connection for heart disease secondary to PTSD have been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination of his left knee disability to determine its current severity.