Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in a need for aid and attendance, which meets the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination regarding his service-connected hiatal hernia with gastritis. The case will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found no CUE in the May 2003 rating decision denying service connection for chondromalacia changes of the patella, left knee. The Veteran's claim to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was not granted for a right knee condition or a left hip condition. PTSD was found to be incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed thoracolumbar spine, left hip, and left knee disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by diabetes mellitus, which is presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismissed the DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 claim as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral knee chondromalacia, and bilateral knee arthritis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than January 30, 2006 for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee were denied. The RO assigned a 10 percent rating for right knee strain and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee medial compartment degenerative changes prior to July 17, 2003. A 20 percent rating was assigned from July 17, 2003.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to his active military duty.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee DJD and lumbar disc disease at L4-L5 are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran is granted higher evaluations for her right knee subluxation and lumbar disc disease, with the latter being effective from December 3, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be proximately due to his service-connected bilateral knee disorder, and thus granted as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves the increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The RO has granted separate 10 percent ratings for limitation of extension of the right knee and a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee, both effective March 12, 2009.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current right foot or bilateral knee disability and there is no evidence of such disabilities in service. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination to determine the current nature and extent of her service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining treatment records from the Texarkana VA Medical Center and readjudicating his claims for increased disability ratings for left leg varicose veins and residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative changes. The issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

The Board denied all issues related to service connection, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not due to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation or Gulf War. The initial noncompensable ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of both knees and plantar fasciitis with pes planus, heel spur, callous formation, 3rd and 4th metatarsal head with Morton's neuroma of the second intermetatarsal space were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of any chronic knee disability during or within one year after his military service.

The case is being remanded due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing. The Regional Office must schedule her for such a hearing at their office.