Knee Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is not attributable to his period of active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees remain at 10 percent, as determined by VA examinations in December 2010. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities are related to his military service. As such, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the neck, left hip disability, and left knee disability were denied as there is no evidence of a current chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran was diagnosed with degenerative joint disease/arthritic changes in his left knee in 1993.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities due to worsening symptoms since his last examination in November 2010. The RO/AMC must also seek additional relevant records from VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee instability and degenerative joint disease were denied by the Board. The evidence did not show that either condition warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for multiple meniscectomies with laxity of the right knee and degenerative joint disease of the right knee was granted, but only to a 20 percent rating. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of malaria, bilateral knee disability, and soft tissue sarcoma as there was no competent evidence to support these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg disability, including his right knee condition, and bilateral eye disability did not have onset during or as a result of active service. The VA examiners found no relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of the left knee were caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle and foot strains. As a result, both claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent from August 15, 2005 to April 30, 2007 and has not met the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.,Since June 1, 2008, the Veteran's left knee disability rated at 30 percent does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on instability or other residuals of his surgery.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were remanded due to the need for further examination. The VA examinations provided adequate findings to rate the disabilities, but no rating was assigned as the appeal is pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to have begun during his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The increased rating claims for right knee disability and left knee instability are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on instability or limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and the claims for plantar fasciitis, bilateral knee disability, and back disability are dismissed due to withdrawal of appeals.

The Veteran's right knee disability was not rated higher than 20 percent, and he received a separate rating for arthritis. His left knee condition did not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has granted increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, gout of the right great toe, and several forms of joint dysfunction. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and right knee injury.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Citrus Memorial Hospital on February 25, 2009 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency services.