Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disorders did not manifest until many years after his discharge from service and are not otherwise etiologically related to his in-service right knee injury.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right leg or right knee disability that is attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee injury residuals are shown to be manifested by complaints of painful motion, weakness, stiffness, and instability. The disability is not shown to be manifested by ankylosis, moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, dislocated cartilage, flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 15 degrees, moderate knee disability, or genu recurvatum. Normal X-ray findings are shown.

The Board denied entitlement to an increased rating for the right knee disorder and service connection for a low back disorder secondary to bilateral knee disorders.

The RO reduced the Veteran's evaluation for his service-connected right knee disability from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective August 1, 2007. The Board found that this reduction was improper and restored the original 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's cause of death, end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on aid and attendance of another person is granted, as he meets the criteria for housebound status due to his age and multiple non-service connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent combined.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records. The issue of entitlement to nonservice-connected pension remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of chronic residuals or treatment for these conditions during active duty. The VA examiner concluded that the current diagnoses were not caused by, the result of, or related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine their impact on employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected knee disabilities and their impact on her employability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to clarify the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and any relevant Reserve or National Guard records. A VA examination will be scheduled for each of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records and clinical treatment records, as well as to provide her with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current back, left shoulder, and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability was denied by the RO, as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right knee injury or disease during active duty, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied. The issue of pulmonary berylliosis remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and found that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded to the RO for further consideration on de novo review.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining evidence of his income between March 28, 2004 and March 19, 2005, and providing VA medical opinions regarding whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right knee residuals of medial meniscal tear and synovitis with plica, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case has been remanded due to inadequate examination regarding the relationship between these conditions and other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability with traumatic arthritis has been rated as 10 percent disabling. From February 28, 2008 to August 22, 2010, the Veteran was granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent for limitation of flexion of his service-connected right knee. The claim for degenerative joint disease (degenerative changes) of the left wrist has been denied as not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied by the RO, as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.