Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's shell fragment wound scar of the left leg/knee did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it was not ulcerated, adherent to underlying tissue, deep or unstable, painful on examination, and did not cause any limitation of function.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on housebound status due to multiple non-service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. He also meets the age requirement for this benefit.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities and a need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and PTSD. The claim for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis was previously denied in 1955 and is not currently being reopened.

The Veteran's cause of death was renal failure, but the VA physician will be asked to determine if his service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, gout of the feet, and gout of the right knee disabilities were not found to be related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation for epidermophytosis of the bilateral feet or residuals of cellulitis of the left knee, tinnitus was incurred during active military service, there is no current diagnosis of left foot and ankle disability or bilateral hand disability related to active military service, and new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for a left leg disability including scars and Paget's disease.

The Board has determined that the evidence supports reducing the evaluation for lumbosacral strain from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective March 1, 2007. The Veteran's service-connected bowel disorder is not supported by competent medical evidence and thus denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that the earliest possible effective date would be April 11, 2006, based on the date entitlement arose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to an injury in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's left knee disorder is related to her active duty service on April 4, 1998 and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability secondary to her service-connected left knee disability and for a left foot disability, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, as they do not cause permanent loss of use of a foot or ankylosis of a knee.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The RO found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, including arthritis and postoperative medial meniscus tear, does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg and right knee have been evaluated at 10 percent each, with no higher evaluations granted due to the current manifestations not meeting criteria for more severe disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the right shoulder, low back, and knees were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not show a nexus between any current disability and service.