Citation Nr: 21009444 Decision Date: 02/22/21 Archive Date: 02/22/21 DOCKET NO. 17-20 074 DATE: February 22, 2021 ORDER Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted. FINDING OF FACT The competent and credible evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s current left knee disability (osteoarthritis) was incurred in service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection for left knee osteoarthritis are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1112, 1113, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.307, 3.309. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from May 1981 to December 1984. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from an October 2017 rating decision. The Veteran testified at a Board hearing in November 2019. In February 2020, the Board remanded the Veteran’s appeal for additional development. *** The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disability. 05/16/2017, Fully Developed Claim. Private treatment records show a diagnosis of left knee ostearthritis. 08/30/2017, Medical Treatment Record - Non-Government Facility, at 2. In a November 2017 statement, the Veteran asserted that his current left knee disability is a progression a left knee injury in service. 11/01/2017, Statement in Support of Claim. At his November 2019 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that he started to have knee issues after leaving service in 1984, more specifically in December 1985. He described these issues as swelling, stiffness, and pain. He explained that he was very physically active at the time, that he played squadron basketball in service and that he continued to do so after service. He added that he sought treatment for his knee in service; he also referenced treatment at the VA facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he works. 11/08/2019, Hearing Transcript. Service treatment records show that the Veteran was treated for left knee issues in service. In detail, a November 1982 note indicates that he complained of left knee pain after playing basketball on asphalt and prolonged walking during drills. The note appears to show a diagnosis of patellar tendinitis. 02/09/2007, STR-Medical, at 98. Pursuant to the Board’s February 2020 remand, the Veteran underwent a new VA examination in March 2020. The examination report shows a diagnosis of left knee joint osteoarthritis. In the Medical History section, the examiner noted that the Veteran injured his knee while playing basketball in service and has been having knee problems ever since. The examiner also noted that the Veteran was a security officer during service and that he had multiple knee injuries during his job. Notwithstanding the history reported by the Veteran, the February 2020 VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s left knee disability is less likely than not related to service. The examiner’s rationale was essentially that the Veteran had only an acute condition in service, with no evidence of chronicity of care. This opinion lacks a comprehensive medical rationale, relies on the absence of corroborating evidence, and does not show consideration of the Veteran’s report of symptoms since separation from service. For these reasons, it is inadequate and entitled to only low weight. The February 2020 VA examiner also opined that the Veteran’s left knee disability is less likely than not secondary to a service-connected disability. The opinion focused on the Veteran’s in-service right heel calcaneal stress fracture, which str describe as associated with excessive marching. See 02/09/2007, STR-Medical, at 26. Nevertheless, the opinion did not address the question of whether the Veteran’s left knee disability is related to the right heel stress fracture. Rather, the examiner discussed whether the right heel stress fracture was related to service, ignoring the fact that service connection for the right heel stress fracture has been in effect since 2013. As such, this portion of the February 2020 VA opinion is also inadequate and entitled to only low weight. Resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that the evidence of record is at least in equipoise to support a grant of service connection for the Veteran’s left knee disability. 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b). Significantly, the Veteran has provided credible testimony that establishes that he experienced multiple knee injuries in service and that he has had a continuous history of knee symptoms since service. The Board finds no reason to doubt the veracity of the Veteran’s 2019 testimony in this regard. Furthermore, the Veteran’s reports of knee injuries in service in consistent with treatment and personnel records from service. As mentioned, service treatment records show that the Veteran was treated for knee symptoms in service. Service treatment records also confirm the Veteran’s report of strenuous physical activity during service. Finally, military personnel records confirm that the Veteran’s military occupational specialty (MOS) was security specialist. 02/07/2007, DD 214. The Veteran’s reports of knee injuries in service are consistent with the nature of this MOS.   In sum, the weight of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s left knee disability was incurred in service and has had continuing chronic symptomatology since. Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted. Paul Sorisio Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board P. López, 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.