Citation Nr: 21071790 Decision Date: 12/01/21 Archive Date: 12/01/21 DOCKET NO. 17-30 518 DATE: December 1, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a rating higher than 20 percent for a right knee disability is remanded. Entitlement to a rating higher than 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is remanded. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from March 1993 to February 2001.This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2016 rating decision of a VA Regional Office (RO). REASONS FOR REMAND Right knee disability Remand is required to afford the Veteran a VA examination to adequately evaluate the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability, to include the Veteran's reported symptoms. In this regard, VA treatment records note a June 2020 incident where the Veteran felt "a pop and burning sensation in his right knee with "swelling, feeling of instability, grinding, catching/locking, feeling like the knee will 'roll to the outside,' leg weakness, tingling following sharp pain. A February 2021 VA treatment record notes that the Veteran has severe right knee pain from advanced osteoarthritis, and he walks with a cane. The physician noted that the private physician recommended a right knee replacement. An April 2021 VA treatment record shows that the Veteran's right knee pain is treated with injections. A May 2021 VA treatment record notes that the Veteran treats his knee pain with prescription opioids. PTSD Remand is required to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran was last afforded a VA examination in August 2016 and subsequent evidence indicates his PTSD symptoms may have increased in severity. In this regard, a March 2017 VA treatment record shows that the Veteran was diagnosed with "severe" PTSD and an August 2018 VA treatment record noted that the Veteran July 2020 VA treatment records show that the Veteran has been prescribed medication to manage his PTSD. Additionally, the VA physicians referred the Veteran for mental health treatment, although the Veteran noted that he was unable to attend mental health counseling because of work. As such, in light of the possible increase in severity of the Veteran's PTSD since the last VA examination, the Board finds that remand is also required to afford the Veteran a new VA examination to determine the current severity of such disability. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain updated VA treatment records. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination to evaluate the current severity of his right knee disability. The examiner must address the Veteran's reported symptoms, to include swelling, instability and locking and the knee-pain management, to include knee injections and prescription opioids. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected PTSD. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms. The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and social and occupational impairment due to PTSD alone. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Hemphill 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.