Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or causation for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at Bayfront Health Brooksville on September 2, 2014 was authorized by VA and is therefore eligible for reimbursement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot, ankle, and knee disabilities had their onsets during service. As a result, the claims for these conditions are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis with left leg numbness and left knee arthritis are at least as likely as not related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and back disorder (scoliosis) are not service-connected, with no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry. The right knee disorder claim is pending as its rating status is unknown.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the claims for increased ratings were not granted. The conditions, including hearing loss and sleep apnea, did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 10 percent rating to a noncompensable rating for limitation of extension was improper and has restored the original 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD, instability, and extension have also been denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective May 1, 2013. The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee disabilities were previously denied. New evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an acquired psychiatric disability related to radiation treatment was also denied as there is no additional disability stemming from VA treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his current range of motion.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including collateral ligament reconstruction and chronic medial ligament instability, is currently rated at 20 percent for the period prior to November 17, 2015. Since that date, his condition has not warranted a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the bilateral feet, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus. The claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of onset in service or within one year of separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and foot disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on instability or limitation of motion, and there was no evidence of actual loss of use of the left foot.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of records, including a need for an additional VA examination to address whether the Veteran has a meniscus condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the feet, ankles, knees, or respiratory system that are related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence fails to establish any present disability as a result of service.

The Veteran's gall bladder condition is not related to his military service.,There are no current findings for bilateral knee disorder that can be linked to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for DJD of the right and left knees, both to include as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his bilateral knee disabilities. The RO must also consider the propriety of assigning a temporary total rating for convalescence under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 and the applicability of Diagnostic Code 5055 in light of the Veteran's June 2017 total left knee replacement surgery.