Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the appellant did not timely file a substantive appeal for his claims, and thus lacks jurisdiction to consider them.

The Board denied both the assignment of an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher disability evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The veteran's service-connected left knee and bilateral ankle sprains are not shown to be more severe than currently evaluated, with no ankylosis or significant impairment of function.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for service-connected disabilities of the left and right knees has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board determined that the veteran did not file an adequate substantive appeal for his claims of service connection and nonservice-connected pension benefits, thus dismissing these issues.

The veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of fracture of the left tibia and fibula, left knee disability, and left hip disability are not manifested by unusual or exceptional factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization. The RO denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily personal needs without assistance from others or unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living on a regular basis. His combined schedular evaluation is 90 percent, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic acquired disorder of either knee or hip in service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. The decision is in favor of reopening the claim.

The VA has granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's right knee injury and denied service connection for his left knee osteoarthritis, which is considered secondary to his right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, characterized as arthritis with limitation of motion, warrants a separate compensable (10 percent) evaluation. The current 20 percent rating for internal derangement remains unchanged.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the service-connected right knee disability, effective from December 14, 2000.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral defective hearing, a left wrist disability, a left shoulder disability with resection of the left distal clavicle, and meniscal degeneration of the left knee. The veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, which was previously denied in August 1990.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to tend to basic self-care functions without regular assistance from another person, meeting the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right above the knee amputation and left foot drop, meet the criteria for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations. The veteran also meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing a specially adapted automobile or automobile adaptive equipment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the submitted evidence was not new and material.

The Board denied both the veteran's increased evaluation for his lumbar spine disorder and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids are currently rated as noncompensable, and his bilateral varicose veins have been rated at 10 percent since October 1996. The new rating criteria for varicose veins became effective on January 12, 1998.,Effective from January 12, 1998, the veteran's bilateral varicose veins are rated as 10 percent each leg.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.