Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits was not properly created due to administrative error on the part of the RO, and thus the debt is invalid.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a lung condition, left knee strain, and right knee strain. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his employment history and other nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board found no chronic disability of the Veteran's right knee or right shoulder present until more than one year following his discharge from service. The Board also determined that any current disabilities were not etiologically related to his active service and were not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of all available records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder and facial skin rashes, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for pilonidal cyst. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's current right knee disability warrants a rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and an opinion regarding direct service connection.

The Veteran's left knee strain was rated at 10 percent prior to April 5, 2007 and then increased to 20 percent from October 5, 2005 to November 8, 2009. The rating is maintained at 20 percent since November 2, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her so helpless that she requires regular aid and attendance of another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance. She also meets the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of both wrists, both knees, and cervical spine is not service connected as secondary to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his flexion was limited to at least 105 degrees and extension was full. The current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the functional loss due to pain.

The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a left knee or left ankle disorder, and the VA examiner found no link between his in-service motorcycle accident and any current disabilities. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, including from SSA and private physicians.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rectus diastasis is granted. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran is also presumed to have incurred other conditions within one year of his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.