Citation Nr: 18147104
Decision Date: 11/02/18	Archive Date: 11/02/18

DOCKET NO. 16-42 534
DATE:	November 2, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder, to include as secondary to a service connected right knee disability, is remanded.
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from March 1986 to August 1986 and from September 1987 to October 1990.  She filed her claims in April 2013, which were denied in January 2014.  She asserts that her physician reported that her right ankle disorder was secondary to her right knee disability.  In addition, she asserts that her right knee disability has increased in severity.
As such, a remand is necessary to obtain on opinion on the etiology of the Veteran’s right ankle disorder and to adjudicate the increased rating claim.
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of her right ankle disorder.  The examiner should offer the following opinions:
(a.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any right ankle disorder either began during or was otherwise caused by the Veteran’s active service?  Why or why not?
(b.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater) that any right ankle disorder was caused by a service connected disability, such as her right knee disability?  Why or why not?
(c.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater) that any right ankle disorder was aggravated (made worse) by a service connected disability?  Why or why not?
If aggravation is found, the examiner should identify the baseline level of severity of the ankle disability before the onset of aggravation or by the earliest medical evidence created at any time between the onset of aggravation and the receipt of medical evidence establishing the current level of severity of the hip disability.  38 C.F.R. § 3.310
(Continued on the next page)
 
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of her service connected right knee disability.  In so doing, the examiner should ensure to the extent possible, consistent with 38 C.F.R. § 4.59, that the report include results of active and passive motion, in addition to the results following repetitive motion testing. If it is not possible to complete any of the range of motion testing described above, it should be explained
 
MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	T. Berryman, Counsel