Citation Nr: 18140230
Decision Date: 10/02/18	Archive Date: 10/02/18

DOCKET NO. 16-22 359
DATE:	October 2, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active military service from December 1980 to December 1983. 
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2014 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 
The Board’s review of the claims file reveals that further action on the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is needed. 
At the outset, the Board notes that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the left knee joint.  See December 2015 Medical Treatment Record – Non-Government.  
A review of the service treatment records shows that he has normal lower extremities with no cramps, arthritis, or rheumatism of the left knee in the December 1980 entrance examination and the October 1983 separation examination.  See August 2013 STR – Medical.  The service treatment records note a right knee injury but no left knee injury.  Despite the lack of medical evidence, the Veteran alleged that he had left knee pain from his extensive combat training.  See November 2015 VA 21-4138 Statement in Support of Claim.  The Board notes that the Veteran was an infantryman.  See December 1983 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.  Based on the evidence of record, the Board finds that the VA’s duty to assist has been triggered and as such a VA examination should be afforded to the Veteran.
The matters are REMANDED for the following actions:
1.  Obtain all outstanding VA and private medical records and associate them with the claims file.
2.  After the above records development is completed, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination from an appropriate medical professional.  The claims file must be made available to be reviewed by the examiner.  All indicated diagnostic tests should also be completed.
After examining the Veteran and reviewing the claims file, the examiner must provide a diagnosis for the Veteran’s current left knee disability and determine if it is at least as likely as not (a fifty percent probability or greater) that any diagnosed left knee disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.  In rendering this conclusion, the examiner must specifically discuss the Veteran’s contentions that his in-service combat training caused his current left knee disability.
A detailed rationale for all opinions must be provided.  If the examiner is unable to offer the requested opinion, it is essential that the examiner offer a rationale for the conclusion that an opinion could not be provided without resort to speculation, together with a statement as to whether there is additional evidence that could enable an opinion to be provided, or whether the inability to provide the opinion is based on the limits of medical knowledge. 

 
 
S. HENEKS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	P. Noh, Associate Counsel