Knee Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his knee disabilities have been denied. The current ratings are deemed appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis is also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his hemorrhoids and left knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and did not reopen the claim for left knee disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee arthritis due to trauma, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Veteran's disability picture encompasses a variety of significant multi-system disabilities, factually rendering her more often than not unable to safely perform virtually all activities of daily living without regular assistance from another person. The Board grants special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, stating he did not want to continue any appeals on the issues of service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities and an increased evaluation for a spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have chronic right knee or right shoulder/biceps disabilities related to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural defect in notice, specifically regarding the rating criteria used for evaluating motion of the knee under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for residuals of total right knee arthroplasty, effective from September 28, 2006. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and separate ratings were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for left knee strain and service connection for residuals of a sacral injury due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee arthroplasty and tendonitis of the right shoulder do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating, as they do not result in a combined rating of at least 70% when considering all disabilities. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee and ankle disorders, both of which are secondary to the service-connected right leg disability.,With respect to the reopened claims, the Board finds that it is as likely as not that the appellant's current diagnoses of right knee patella pain syndrome/strain with arthritis and right ankle strain are related to his service-connected right leg disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disorders are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective April 3, 2007. The Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on the current medical findings.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, right knee disability, and low back disability. The Veteran's current right knee and low back disabilities are found to be related to his service-connected residuals of a right ankle injury.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a higher initial rating of 50 percent effective from February 21, 2005.,The Veteran's left knee disorder was granted an initial noncompensable rating and later increased to 10 percent effective from October 26, 2006. The right knee disorder was also granted a noncompensable initial rating.,Service connection for residuals of septorhinoplasty and chronic sinusitis were not established.

The Board denied service connection for right knee strain, herniated nucleus pulposus L4-5 with hip pain and numbness in both feet, skin rash of the hands and legs (presumed due to herbicide exposure), migraine headaches (secondary to PTSD disability), and prostate condition (presumed due to herbicide exposure).