Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for callouses of the feet, left knee disorder, and cold injury residuals. The Board found that these conditions were not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, varicose veins of the right lower extremity, and right knee degenerative joint disease with effusion do not warrant higher ratings as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of those currently assigned.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, a disorder of the lower extremities (including pes planus), allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The claim for right shoulder impingement syndrome is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current PVD and amputations were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of cold injuries during service and the amputations occurred years after service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's left knee surgery necessitated a temporary total rating from July 27, 2005 to September 27, 2005.,The Veteran's right knee surgery required a temporary total rating from November 1, 2005 to January 31, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding proper notice and development of missing VA medical records.

The Veteran does not have a chronic disorder manifested by bilateral knee disability, right sciatica, or headaches. The Board finds that the claims for these conditions must be denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no decisions were made regarding service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected fragment wound to the left thigh is currently rated at 10 percent, and his claim for a higher rating has been granted. However, his secondary knee disorder claim has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disability was aggravated during service, and therefore grants service connection for a current left knee disability.

The Board has restored the 30 percent evaluation for residuals of a left knee injury, status post arthroscopic repair from February 1, 2004. The Veteran's current symptoms and medical evidence do not support an evaluation greater than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both legs is denied as he does not have the anatomical loss or loss of use of both legs due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid disorder and bilateral knee disorder, finding no evidence of such disorders during or within one year after service. The Veteran did not provide credible evidence to support his assertions of continuity of symptoms.

The Board finds that additional development is required before the issues of service connection for right and left foot disorders are ripe for adjudication upon the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (right knee arthritis, quadriceps atrophy, painful scars of the right knee, and shortening of the lower extremity) are sufficient to render him unemployable without regard to advancing age.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been granted service connection and assigned initial evaluations. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective May 24, 2004. The right knee disability was initially evaluated at 10 percent from May 24, 2004 to July 7, 2010, and then increased to 20 percent beginning July 8, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his active service, and thus he cannot establish service connection. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions from the Veteran's private physicians and a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and thus no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of this claim.