Knee Board decisions

The veteran's application for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted as of June 18, 2002. The effective date cannot be earlier than this date due to the criteria for permanent and total disability not being met prior to that time.

The Board denied the reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a hearing at the RO before a Decision Review Officer (DRO). The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or significant functional loss, and the current conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the destruction of his service medical records and the need to obtain additional evidence, including physical examinations from civilian employment and morning reports from military training.

The veteran's claimed knee, elbow, and shoulder disorders are not considered to have been incurred or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the symptoms he experienced were due to known clinical diagnoses and do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied secondary service connection for left knee pathology, finding that the veteran's degenerative changes in the left knee were more likely due to age than to his service-connected shell fragment wounds.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and a lumbar spine condition, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the right knee claim and concluding that there was no current disability or link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the right knee disability effective from May 10, 2000. Prior to that date, the veteran was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right leg, foot, ankle, knee and low back disorders are not related to his service. The pre-existing fractures did not worsen during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired low back disorder, bilateral knee disability, and arthritis of the legs, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and an increased rating for residuals of left wrist fracture, but granted a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's right knee disability was manifested by traumatic arthritis prior to May 1, 2002. The medical evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records related to his award of Social Security Disability benefits.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as the veteran's recent statements were largely duplicative of previous assertions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and determining whether a January 2005 Supplemental Statement of the Case was issued.

The Board finds that the veteran's spouse was in need of regular aid and attendance due to her physical disabilities, including a stroke resulting in hemiparesis and wheelchair use. The claim is granted.