Citation Nr: 18145672 Decision Date: 10/29/18 Archive Date: 10/29/18 DOCKET NO. 15-02 895 DATE: October 29, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded. Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for postoperative residuals, of right triple arthrodesis secondary to fracture of right tarsal navicular bones with arthritis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1960 to November 1963. These matters come before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2012 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St. Petersburg, Florida. In July 2018, the Veteran presented testimony at a Board hearing. A transcript of the hearing is part of the record. At his hearing, the Veteran asserted that his right foot disability has increased in severity since the Veteran was last examined by VA in May 2012. The Veteran’s right foot should be examined ascertain its current severity and manifestations. The Veteran’s service-connected right foot injury stems from an in-service sky-diving accident which occurred in July 1963. He contends that he suffered injury to his right knee in this incident, as well. He testified that his right knee was swollen during the time he was hospitalized for his right foot injury. The Veteran has contended that he has experienced pain and difficulty with his right knee since his discharge from service. The Veteran’s right knee was examined in May 2012. The examiner diagnosed tricompartmental degenerative joint disease of the right knee and opined that his right knee disorder was less likely than not incurred in or caused by his in-service sky diving accident. She based her opinion on the absence of medical evidence showing treatment for the Veteran’s right knee in service and following service. The examiner concluded that there was no evidence of a right knee disability until 2007—more than 40 years since service. The Board finds that, because the examiner did not address the Veteran’s contentions that his right knee was swollen and painful following the skydiving accident or his reports that he had knee pain since service, the May 2012 opinion is inadequate. ). As such, the Veteran should be examined to address these contentions. In addition, because the Veteran has reported an altered gait as the result of his service-connected right foot disability, the examiner should address whether the Veteran’s right knee disability has been caused or aggravated by the altered gait. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected post-operative residuals of right triple arthrodesis secondary to a fracture of the right tarsal navicular bones with arthritis. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to his right foot disability alone and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s disability on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disorder, including tricompartmental degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including his in-service sky-diving accident, (2) proximately due to his service-connected right foot disability, or (3) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected right foot disability. The examiner must address the Veteran’s contentions that he had swelling and pain in his right knee following the accident, and that he has had pain and discomfort with his right knee since service. JAMES L. MARCH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD M. Harrigan Smith