Citation Nr: 19190847 Decision Date: 12/03/19 Archive Date: 12/03/19 DOCKET NO. 16-31 103 DATE: December 3, 2019 REMANDED Service connection for left knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected right knee disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service in the U.S. Marine Corps from April 1969 to April 1978. In September 2019, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veteran’s Law Judge. The Veteran made the claim that his left knee disability is secondary to his already service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran underwent a VA examination in January 2017 where it was found that he had a diagnosis of degenerative arthritis in his left knee but was silent regarding the cause of this condition. The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: Schedule a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s left knee disability. The claims file, including this Remand, should be made available to the examiner for review. All indicated tests and studies should be conducted and all findings reported in detail. The examiner must opine with complete rationale whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s left knee disability is related to military service. For consideration, the Board points out that a service treatment record dated March 1, 1978 showed some swelling in the suprapatellar bursa suggesting mild effusion of the left knee and that in a statement dated September 26, 2014, a VA nurse practitioner felt that the Veteran’s current left knee disability was a result of this 1978 injury. If the examiner opines no to the above, the examiner must opine with rationale whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s left knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Jorge Barroso, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.