Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities have been reopened, but new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection has not been established for hearing loss or tinnitus as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is due to his service-connected bilateral foot disability. The claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emergency medical treatment at Halifax Medical Center on January 18, 2009, was for a medical emergency and that VA facilities were not feasibly available. The claim is granted for payment of $111.00 in unauthorized medical expenses.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 30 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is being remanded due to missing VA treatment records and the need for a contemporaneous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for left ear hearing loss was not substantiated as the Veteran did not have sufficient impairment to qualify as a disability. The claim for service connection for residuals of left leg thrombosis, respiratory disability, and left knee disability is addressed in the REMAND section. Other claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for new VA examinations and retrieval of relevant treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis and right knee osteoarthritis are not related to her service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or chronicity.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of its manifestation during service, and the April 2013 VA examiner opined that it is unrelated to service.

The Veteran is granted an annual clothing allowance for the year 2011 due to his service-connected knee disabilities causing premature wear of his clothing.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and musculoligamentous strain of the left knee are not shown to warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left knee injury and degenerative joint disease prior to November 5, 2012 were found not to warrant a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and arranging a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for his claimed sinus disorder, hemorrhoids, right shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support the claim.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his service-connected disabilities of the right shoulder, left shoulder, right wrist, and right knee have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his knee condition has been granted, with a current rating of 20 percent.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee limitation of motion, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are adequately addressed by the current 10% rating under DC 5260.

The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for a right knee disability as it is not related to military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, as there is no medical evidence linking current knee conditions to service. The Veteran's reported symptoms and injuries are not supported by contemporaneous records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background, warranting a TDIU.