Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran does not have a right knee disorder related to his period of service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The veteran is not entitled to compensation for permanent and total disability due to blindness in both eyes or includes the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, thus his claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant is denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU rating, while also denying special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The veteran's hypertension and cervical strain were granted service connection. The reduction in the disability rating for cervical strain from 20% to noncompensable was upheld, and a 10% rating for cervical strain was assigned.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Florida Hospital Walker on July 17, 1997 were denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Board has determined that the veteran would not have been entitled to a total service-connected disability evaluation for ten or more years immediately preceding his death, and therefore denied the claim of entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for non-service-connected death pension benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, and accrued benefits owed to the widow of the deceased veteran due to insufficient evidence showing 90 days of active service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected hypertension and left knee disability, but denied his claim for an increased rating for right knee disorder as not well-grounded.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected knee and back disabilities were denied. The RO continued the current ratings of 10 percent for chondromalacia of both knees, 20 percent for polyarthralgia, and no rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disability (other than a scar), left knee disability, or bilateral ankle disability related to his military service. The claim for a left knee scar is denied as there is no evidence of chronic worsening due to service. Service connection was also denied for pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his right knee injuries and arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran died of renal cell carcinoma, and the Board found that he was not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because his death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet any of the conditions for entitlement as per the regulations.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral chondromalacia of the knees.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The case is being remanded to determine if there is new evidence that could support a grant of service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is denied as his post-operative residuals of left knee injury, with Baker's cyst and instability, are currently rated at 30 percent. His arthritis of the left knee is also rated at 10 percent. The right knee disability was not incurred in service or due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's claims for a temporary total disability rating, service connection for low back disability, and increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities are denied. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the veteran for VA examinations.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability was granted, with the current rating of 10 percent being maintained.

The VA denied reimbursement for the cost of private medical services rendered to the veteran due to lack of emergency condition and availability of VA facilities.