Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for right knee disability. The preponderance of evidence showed that the left ankle disability did not result in marked limitation of motion, thus denying an increased rating. Regarding the right knee disability, the claim was decided on a direct basis without any indication of secondary or other theories.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for prostatitis, burn scars of the left knee, arthritis of the left knee, and diabetes mellitus. The February 2007 rating decision found no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disorder. The case has been remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and verify the Veteran's statements regarding SSA disability benefits.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess his service-connected right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disability, and tinnitus. The claim for hearing loss was not adjudicated as it was referred to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses was denied as VA did not provide prior authorization and the surgeries were deemed non-emergent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for at least five years from the date of his separation from service, and he did not meet the requirement of being a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee has been manifested by mild degenerative arthritis shown by x-ray evidence, extension to 0 degrees, and limitation of flexion at most to 120 degrees with subjective complaints of pain.,From June 19, 2007, the Veteran's left knee has demonstrated mild instability.

The Veteran's multiple injuries, including bilateral wrist and forearm fractures, fractures of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers, laceration of the knees, and laceration of the forehead, were not caused by an essential activity or function of his VA training program. The Board found that the accident occurred while he was riding a bicycle home from class, which is not part of the authorized activities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability, including postoperative residuals of an exostectomy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee disability. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to obtain clarification of his April 2008 private audiological examination findings, as well as a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss and left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their relationship to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board finds that the overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits was not properly created due to administrative error, and thus there is no valid overpayment. The Veteran's claim for waiver of an overpayment is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). The claims of service connection for various disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule him for a VA examination, and consider his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the appellant's claims for service connection, non-service-connected death pension benefits, and accrued benefits due to her spouse's death. Specifically, a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was a contributory cause of his death needs to be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right hip, and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.