Knee Board decisions

The veteran's knee and hip disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that these ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied because he did not meet the standard of 'good health,' as his nonservice-connected disabilities, including arthritis and obesity, exceeded the allowed threshold.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for respiratory disorder, heart disability, bilateral knee spurring, bilateral foot spurs, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral shoulder degenerative changes as service connection is not established.,However, the Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee spurring, bilateral foot spurs, lumbosacral strain, and bilateral shoulder degenerative changes.

The Board has granted special monthly death pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to the appellant's reported difficulties with mobility, cooking, personal hygiene, and self-care.

The Board denied all service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disability (schizophrenia), a right knee disability, a low back disability, and headaches. The veteran's current psychiatric disability was not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, coronary artery disease, dizziness and blackouts, stomach disorder, joint disease of the neck, bilateral knee disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral hand disorder, and bilateral leg disorder. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left elbow disabilities, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed right knee and upper leg disability, as well as his left elbow disability, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee lateral instability warrants a 20 percent disability rating, which is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service, as there was no chronic disability during service and no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and any incident of service. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee disability and low back disability are not related to his military service. The claims for these disabilities have been denied.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 20, 2005, for the 10 percent rating for patellofemoral syndrome of his right knee is granted. The other claims are being remanded to the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left and right knee disabilities are related to his military service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right knee.

The VA determined that the veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, hips, and knees is not related to his service or service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left buttock. The Board agreed with this determination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a failure of the veteran to attend a scheduled VA examination and because the RO did not present his file to an appropriate examiner.

The Board found that the appellant's migraine headaches are no more than occasionally prostrating and thus do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The issues regarding carpal tunnel syndrome, leg/knee pain, and swollen fingers/ankles/hands were also denied as service connection was decided on the merits.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the postoperative residuals of the anterior cruciate ligament repair of the left knee, finding that the veteran's impairment was no more than moderate.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for lumbosacral strain, degenerative changes of the left knee, and residuals of a right shoulder fracture were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under VA regulations.