Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's conditions, while disabling, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee and instability of the right knee, were all granted. The Veteran now has a 10 percent evaluation for each condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, dislocation of the patella and residuals of a soft tissue injury to the left foot. The Veteran's current right knee disorder is likely due to an in-service accident where he sustained trauma to his right knee.

The Board found no evidence of a current back or bilateral knee disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.,For the bilateral leg disorder issue, there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Veteran seeks retroactive payment of vocational rehabilitation benefits due to the need for additional training. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a left knee disability. The claim for service connection for psuedofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is remanded to obtain a medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is service-connected as it developed during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder/arm disability and bilateral knee disabilities are currently evaluated at the lowest possible ratings due to their current functional limitations, but do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease, L4-5, L5-S1 was denied. The claim for service connection for idiopathic thrombocarpin purpura with systemic lupus erythermatosus (claimed as thrombocarpin) was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's right knee disability met the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation as of September 26, 2006 and an effective date of November 2, 2006 was granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder and right knee disabilities were denied. The increased rating claims for cervical spine, left clavicle, and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claim for an increased rating for residuals of removal of right rib and left rib. The remaining issues were not addressed as they are downstream from the initial rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder was granted a higher initial rating of 50 percent effective March 24, 2009. The other disabilities were previously granted and remain at their current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right ankle and knee disabilities were denied. The claim to reopen a right wrist disability was granted, but no new evaluation is assigned as the highest schedular rating has already been reached.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected post-operative left knee with degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to protect himself from daily hazards and requires regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC by reason of need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link any of the disabilities to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for flat feet and service connection for right knee condition, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of a causal relationship to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for internal derangement syndrome of the left knee and osteoarthritis of the left knee have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.