Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a medial meniscal tear and Baker's cyst, right knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case to his current address.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left knee disability is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran contends that these disabilities are more severe than the current ratings suggest.,The Veteran has not provided any evidence to support a higher rating for either of his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a hernia is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to the etiology of the claimed residuals of a hernia, especially considering the March 1999 finding that the left inguinal hernia and epigastric hernia were incurred in the line of duty.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, including verification of his service dates. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back strain with osteoarthritis and left knee strain with osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for schizophrenia. The issue of service connection for arthritis of the back, knees, ankles, and wrists remains denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed low back, left knee, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and right ankle disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim. The right knee disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability alone does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100%, including a non-service-connected condition rated at 60%. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports an award of special monthly pension on account of being housebound.

The Veteran's claim for a left knee disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and hepatitis were previously denied, but the Veteran has not appealed these decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been presented to relate his current disability to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right knee disability, including as secondary to a low back disability. The evidence did not establish continuity of symptomatology or show that the current disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claim, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and private treatment records from Dr. Tong.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating in excess of 10 percent, as it did not manifest with ankylosis or limitation of motion to 45 degrees flexion or 10 degrees extension. The RO denied his claim.