Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to July 1, 2011 and 30 percent thereafter. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury of the knees noted at service entrance and that the presumption of soundness has not been rebutted. The Veteran's current knee conditions are considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board in February 1987 affirmed the termination of the Veteran's total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability, which was effective January 1, 1985. The decision is now being reviewed due to a claim of clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly address the appellant's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran is found to be totally and permanently disabled as a result of nonservice-connected disabilities, including benign prostate hypertrophy, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and back condition (lumbosacral spine), when considered with his age, educational level, and prior work history. Therefore, he is entitled to nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of duty status during training, obtaining VA treatment records, and scheduling new examinations.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's diagnosed arthritis to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and post-traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left knee are both found to be related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as maxillary sinusitis, were denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent evaluations adequately reflected the severity of the Veteran's conditions.,A separate claim for service connection for headaches was also denied due to insufficient evidence linking any headache disorder to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right hip trochanteric bursitis, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches on a direct basis. The claims of service connection for these conditions are all considered to be the result of injury or disease incurred in active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and skin disorder are related to his active military service.

The evidence is equally divided on whether the Veteran's right knee and shoulder pain, as well as his skin condition, are secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing medical records from the Veteran's incarceration period.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 18, 2000 for the grant of TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU until that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for flat feet is dismissed due to his withdrawal. The right wrist disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not substantially or materially contribute to the Veteran's death, which was caused by a spinal cord stroke.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a cervical spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to the age of 18, and also noted that there was no indication in the service treatment records of any current right knee or cervical spine disabilities.