Knee Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew their claim through their authorized representative.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code, and thus denied an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran's disability benefits. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that his MOS as an Airborne Parachute Instructor and history of numerous jumps during service likely caused his current bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of active disease or residual impairment from malaria, and the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board found that a chronic right knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated as a result of service, and the Veteran's current right knee disability is not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active duty or inactive duty for training.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are necessary for the right knee disability claim, as well as a determination of the current severity of the left TKA. The case is REMANDED to allow for these actions.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and CUE were denied as there was no evidence of error in prior decisions, and the claim is based on a direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to independently perform daily functions of self-care or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, thus denying entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for her service-connected left knee disability and service connection for her claimed left hand and wrist disorder are pending.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and his service-connected pes planus, as well as whether any current knee disorders are related to his period of service.

The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, and the Veteran's right knee disability is currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation and developing a dose estimate based on possible radiation exposure during service. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by DJD and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent for the DJD component and 10 percent for the instability component. The Board has determined that neither condition warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied because he did not meet the threshold percentage requirements under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and his case was referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration on an extra-schedular basis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The Director determined that a TDIU is not warranted on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected gunshot wounds did not cause or contribute to his death from sepsis due to a urinary tract infection. The medical evidence does not support the Appellant's claims of hepatitis and PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of a cold injury to the bilateral lower extremities during service, and denied claims for these conditions.,For the right knee disorder, the Board concluded that there is no direct link between the current condition and service. The Veteran's first reported symptoms were in 1992.