Citation Nr: 18152948
Decision Date: 11/27/18	Archive Date: 11/26/18

DOCKET NO. 16-43 869
DATE:	November 27, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to secondary service connection for left knee partial meniscus tear with degenerative joint disease is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from August 1975 to February 1977.  
This matter comes before the Board of Veteran’s Appeals (Board) on appeal from the March 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).
The Veteran contends that her left knee disability is secondary to her service-connected arthroplasty of the right knee. While there are positive opinions from October 2016 and June 2018, those opinions do not contain adequate rationale. Similarly, the February 2013 VA opinion did not adequately address aggravation. Accordingly, an additional opinion is needed.  Updated treatment records should also be requested.
The matter is REMANDED for the following actions:
1. Ask the Veteran to provide the names and addresses of all medical care providers who have recently treated him for his claimed disability. After securing any necessary releases, request  any relevant records identified. In addition, obtain updated VA treatment records. If any requested records are unavailable, the Veteran and his representative should be notified of such.
2. After the above has been completed to the extent possible, send the claims file to a physician to obtain an addendum opinion with respect to the Veteran’s the left knee claim. If a new examination is deemed necessary to respond to the request, one should be scheduled. After review of the claims file, the physician should respond to the following:
a. Is it at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s left knee partial meniscus tear and/or degenerative joint disease has been worsened beyond the normal progression (aggravated) by the service-connected right knee disability, to include the contention that she placed more stress on the     left knee due to favoring the right knee?  Please explain why or why not.
b. If the examiner finds the left knee disability has been aggravated by the service-connected right knee disability, the examiner should attempt to quantify the degree of aggravation beyond the baseline level of left knee disability that is due     



to the right knee disability.  A rationale for the opinion expressed should be provided.
 
K. A. BANFIELD
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	A. Asare, Associate Counsel