Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and dismissed the appeal regarding memory loss. The veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, right otitis media, bilateral eustachian tube dysfunction, and hypertension are pending.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back, neck, right knee, and bilateral foot disorders are not related to service. The VA examinations did not find any evidence of congenital disorders or aggravation during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the hips and knees did not begin during service or due to a cold injury in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and for a rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee pain, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The right knee disorder is considered to have been aggravated during service, while the left knee pain claim lacks sufficient new evidence.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee conditions, have resulted in his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or subluxation.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for right below knee amputation and is granting it. The issues of secondary service connection for left knee, ankle, hip, and low back disorders are also being granted.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The veteran's initial evaluations for his service-connected knee disabilities have been granted, with the right knee receiving a 10 percent evaluation and the left knee increased to a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The veteran's right knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and postoperative residuals of lateral meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. The RO has granted an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly evaluate the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obtaining medical examinations and records.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying entitlement to additional special monthly compensation for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board granted service connection and assigned a 10% rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The effective date was not established as it was determined that there were no early claims for special monthly compensation prior to April 11, 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's overpayment was not due to VA error and denied his request for a waiver of recovery. The decision also noted that failure to notify VA promptly regarding changes in marital status resulted in the creation of the overpayment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for left knee strain, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed acute follicular tonsillitis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for left knee disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and thus does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.