Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the cause of death, sudden cardiac death, did not result from a disability incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected osteochondritis of the left knee and assigned an effective date of May 24, 1993. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and bilateral shoulder disorders, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between any current disabilities and active service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected osteochondritis dissecans of the right knee does not warrant an increase in its evaluation beyond the current 10 percent rating.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support such a rating. A separate 10 percent evaluation was granted based on X-ray evidence of arthritis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment. The RO will also consider whether an extraschedular rating for the left knee disability should be assigned.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a left knee injury are currently rated at 20 percent, effective October 1, 1997. The RO denied his claim for increased evaluation prior to this date and also denied service connection for bronchitis. His right iliac and femoral artery occlusion is currently rated at 20 percent from March 12, 1992, to January 11, 1994, and 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, foot, and hip disorders as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left buttock. The disability rating for the residuals of the shrapnel wound to the left buttock with post-operative neuropathy remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, neck disorder, headaches, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder are well grounded. The evidence supports a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions based on their relationship to his service-connected recurrent left ankle sprain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have granted them. The veteran is presumed to be in sound condition upon entry into active duty, so any current conditions must arise during his service or be due to pre-existing conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip, right knee and lumbar spine disorders secondary to service-connected left knee and ankle disabilities are well-grounded. The evidence submitted since the February 1990 rating decision provides a more complete picture of the veteran's disabilities and their origin.

The veteran's claim of secondary service connection for a right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence due to lack of legal basis prior to December 2, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability, bilateral eye disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are all service-connected. The claim for increased rating of chronic brain syndrome with headaches and dizziness is granted.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is currently pending. The RO has requested additional evidence and will reassess his disability ratings after further examination.

The RO granted service connection for the veteran's disabilities and assigned initial evaluations. The veteran appealed these decisions, requesting higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for loss of balance, blurred vision, headaches, numbness in the hands, pain in the hips, a bilateral knee disorder and a bilateral ankle disorder are not well grounded.