Citation Nr: 20021149 Decision Date: 03/24/20 Archive Date: 03/24/20 DOCKET NO. 17-43 492 DATE: March 24, 2020 ORDER Service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is granted. FINDING OF FACT Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran’s favor, his right knee osteoarthritis began during active service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303 (2019). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS The Veteran honorably served on active duty from May 1975 to November 1976. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a November 2016 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned at a Board hearing in February 2019. 1. Service connection for right knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran reports that his right knee disability first manifested in service. The Veteran competently and credibly testified he injured his knee in-service while playing sports. See February 2019 Hearing Transcript; see also Medical Treatment records. Between those injuries in service and the generalized wear and tear from required military exercise, he has had symptoms of his knee giving way and pain persisting ever since service. See February 2019 Hearing Transcript; see also statement. The Veteran credibly explained that he did not report continuing pain in his right knee because treatment at the military medical clinics was traumatic for him. See February 2019 Hearing Transcript. The Board finds that the Veteran’s statements are probative because they are both competent and credible, due to their consistency with the prior evidence of record and the plausibility of the Veteran’s denial of medical treatment. The Board acknowledges that there is a negative VA examination opinion of record. See October 2016 VA Examination (Medical Opinion). However, this opinion did not adequately take into consideration the Veteran’s report of persistence of symptoms from his time in service to after service. To be adequate, an examination must be based on an accurate factual history, including the Veteran’s report of symptoms. Nieves-Rodriguez v. Nicholson, 22 Vet. App. 295 (2008). Therefore, the Board assigns this VA medical opinion no probative weight. [CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE]   Upon review of the record, the Board finds the evidence to at least be in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current right knee osteoarthritis arose in service. Accordingly, after resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is warranted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102. VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board S. Lambert 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.