Knee Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased disability rating for the service-connected residuals of a right knee meniscal tear with degenerative joint disease, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his current disability levels and determine if service connection can be established for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee conditions do not warrant an increased rating as they are currently rated based on limitation of motion, with no additional functional loss or impairment due to other theories of service connection. The claims have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be considered on their merits.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent since the surgery, and a temporary total evaluation was granted for convalescence following the surgery. The claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The RO should consider separate ratings for limitation of flexion, extension, arthritis, or instability of the knee.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, acid reflux, left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disorder were denied, while his claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities were not addressed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and genitourinary disability were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA standards. The claimant was not shown to have a current hearing loss disability by VA standards in either ear.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is now service-connected. Service connection for low back, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders remains pending.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for chondromalacia of the right and left knees are being remanded due to a need for further evidentiary development, including an examination to assess current knee disability levels.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for his increased rating claim. The case will be returned to the RO for issuance of an SOC and consideration.

The Board has accepted the Veteran's October 2007 substantive appeal as timely filed, allowing her to proceed with her claims for higher initial ratings for various service-connected disabilities. The effective date of these awards is set at November 1, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not due to disease or injury incurred in service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities were denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has resulted in his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since December 1, 2010.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for nonservice-connected death pension benefits and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or for being housebound, as her net worth was deemed too high to allow for a grant of these benefits.,For accrued benefits, the Board found that some portion of the corpus of the appellant's estate may reasonably be consumed in order to provide for her maintenance. However, given her current financial situation, she does not meet the net worth eligibility requirement for pension benefits.

The Veteran's right knee disability necessitated convalescence from October 1, 2008 to April 27, 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to an extension of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for this period.

The Board has determined that further development of the evidence is required before the claims can be adjudicated, and these cases are being remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).