Knee decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and an upper respiratory disorder, including sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination of her left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service is dishonorable and a bar to VA benefits. However, he was entitled to healthcare benefits under Chapter 17 for any disability determined to be service-connected during his period of service.

The Veteran does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits as his active duty service falls outside the parameters of periods of war. The appellant is also not entitled to accrued benefits due to the Veteran's death and lack of pending claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities that he claims are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left knee disability and depression have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's increased disability following the right knee arthroscopy procedure was not proximately due to or the result of VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee pain and limitation of motion are presumed to have been incurred during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The low back and right hip disabilities are not currently addressed as they require further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal to reopen his service connection claim for a left knee disability at his July 2013 Board hearing.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for arthritis has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and ventral umbilical hernia were denied as there is no competent evidence demonstrating current disabilities or that they are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right wrist disability and has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, finding that new evidence received since the last final denial shows a current diagnosis of a right knee disability and relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent prior to February 14, 2012 and at 20 percent beginning on that date.,A separate rating of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with limitation of motion was granted. The low back strain with scoliosis remains rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disorder has been rated at 10 percent since September 23, 2008. The Board finds no evidence of instability or arthritis warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and bilateral knee arthritis are caused by gait changes resulting from his service-connected bilateral post-operative callosities and plantar warts of the feet.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder requires ongoing use of a metal brace, which causes irreparable damage to his outer garments. The Board grants the requested annual clothing allowance for the year 2013.

The Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities were not service-connected, as they are unrelated to his military service. His neurological abnormalities and stress fracture residuals did not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability and aggravation of his low back disability by his service-connected right knee disability. Service connection was denied for a direct relationship between the low back disability and service.