Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a skin condition of the right foot, and granted these claims. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The veteran's left knee disability, which includes post-operative resection of the medial plica and partial meniscectomy, is currently rated at 30 percent. The September 2001 VA examination revealed severe instability and limited motion, warranting a higher 60 percent rating.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for internal derangement of the right knee and a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee, effective from June 19, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, postoperative residuals of a posterior cruciate ligament tear, warrants an increased rating to 30 percent from May 1997.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, are severe enough to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the right and left knees, bilateral pes planus, lung disability, right and left ankle disabilities, lipoma of the left arm and cyst/boil of the neck (claimed as secondary to radiation exposure), right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, and right and left wrist disabilities. The claims were denied on the basis that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left knee and back disorders are not related to his service-connected right knee disability, and therefore denied both claims for secondary service connection.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chondromalacia of both knees was incurred during active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a brain aneurysm, left knee, bilateral shoulder, and spine disabilities. The right knee disability was not granted an increased rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of all appeals.

The Board has determined that the current evaluations for the veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities are appropriate and do not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's low back disability and left knee disabilities, but denied a compensable rating for his right knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and his death was due to depression caused by primary alcohol abuse disorder. The service connection for the cause of death is denied as there is no evidence linking the veteran's manic-depressive/bipolar disorder to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability is not related to his service-connected left ankle disability and thus, denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, nor did any such condition contribute to his death. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective from July 20, 1998. The veteran's receipt of Social Security benefits based on old age, survivors' status or disability insurance is properly included as countable income in computation of his pension benefits.

The veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and his nerve injuries are also rated at 20 percent. The RO has granted these ratings.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected pension purposes was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability, which is currently rated at 10 percent disabling under Codes 5299-5257, warrants a higher rating. The RO increased the rating to 10 percent in March 2002.