Citation Nr: 18148677 Decision Date: 11/08/18 Archive Date: 11/07/18 DOCKET NO. 16-36 775 DATE: November 8, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, claimed as knee pain and bursitis, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition, claimed as knee pain and bursitis, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from July 1995 to December 1995. Additionally, the Veteran had periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training until 2006. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).   1. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, claimed as knee pain and bursitis, is remanded. The Veteran’s service treatment records contain a note of left knee pain during a period of active duty for training. No determination has been made regarding how or when the Veteran incurred his left knee injury. Further, clarification is needed as to the Veteran’s current diagnosis. Following a July 2013 MRI, the Veteran was diagnosed with left mild chonrmalacia patella, a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear, a lateral menisucs tear, and a stress fracture of the medial tibial plateau and medial femoral condyle. However, following a 2016 MRI, the Veteran’s left knee was noted as having no discrete medial or lateral meniscal tear, no cruciate ligament tears, and no cartilage defects. The physician noted the presence of intrasubstance degeneration of the medial meniscal posterior horn, an anterior cruciate ligament cyst, and joint fluid. As there is confusion as to the present diagnosis of the Veteran’s knee condition and the etiology of any condition, a remand is warranted for an examination. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition, claimed as knee pain and bursitis is remanded. There is no indication of a right knee injury during active duty service, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, but the Veteran believes that there are additional service treatment records that should be sought. Additionally, clarification of the Veteran’s current diagnosis is needed. Following a July 2013 MRI, the Veteran was diagnosed with a right knee lateral meniscus tear, medial meniscus tear, patellar instability, and stress fracture of the medial tibial plateau and medical femoral condyle. However, following a 2016 MRI the Veteran’s right knee was noted as having no discrete medial or lateral meniscal tear and no cruciate ligament tears. The Veteran’s right knee was noted as having excess joint fluid and soft tissue edema. 3. Entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I is remanded. The Veteran indicated that his diabetes may have had its onset during his service in the National Guard or Army Reserves. The AOJ should attempt to verify the Veteran’s period of active duty for training or inactive duty for training. The Veteran’s claims file does not appear to contain his complete service personnel and treatment records for his period of service in the National Guard and Army Reserve. As these records may contain information regarding the Veteran’s dates of service, a remand is required to obtain them. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the Veteran’s complete service personnel and treatment records, to include all documents pertaining to his service in the Texas National Guard and Army Reserve from the appropriate sources. Verify all active duty for training and inactive duty training dates for service in the Texas National Guard and Army Reserve from 1995 to 2007. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any knee condition. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including the left knee pain noted in 2004 (or any other notation of knee complaints during a period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA). The examiner is asked to provide a complete rationale for all opinions. H.M. WALKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD J. Uller, Associate Counsel