Citation Nr: 21026015
Decision Date: 04/29/21	Archive Date: 04/29/21

DOCKET NO. 14-06 578
DATE: April 29, 2021

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran served on active duty from November 1964 to November 1968, from January 1975 to January 1982, and from April 1982 to June 1989.

The Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned in February 2021. A transcript of the hearing is associated with the claims file. 

1. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Board finds that additional development is necessary prior to adjudicating the Veteran’s claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. 

The Veteran was provided a VA examination in July 2012. The examiner’s opinion, however, only discusses whether the Veteran’s condition was secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and does not address service connection on a direct basis. The Veteran has reported direct links to service in a May 2013 statement and during his 2021 Board hearing. Moreover, the Veteran’s service treatment records indicate that the Veteran was in two motorcycle accidents during his service in August 1975 and April 1981. The August 1975 treatment record specifically reports abrasions of the left knee. The Board also notes that the Veteran was injured in a landmine explosion in March 1966 in Vietnam as reported by the Veteran during his 2021 Board hearing. The Board finds that a medical opinion should be provided regarding whether the Veteran’s current left knee disabilities are at least as likely as not due to any in-service injury or event on a direct basis. 

The matters are REMANDED for the following action:

1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination with an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any current left knee disability. The claims file must be provided to the examiner for review. All indicated tests and studies should be performed. 

The examiner is asked to opine whether it is as least as likely as not (50 percent probability or more) that any current left knee disability had its onset during service, or  is otherwise causally or etiologically related to service, to include his in-service proximity to a landmine explosion in 1966, his August 1975 motorcycle accident, or his April 1981 motorcycle accident.

If not, the examiner is asked to opine whether it is as least as likely as not (50 percent probability or more) that any left knee disability is due to any service-connected disability, to include his right knee disability.

The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms, treatment, and injuries, and that his reports must be taken into account in formulating the requested opinion.

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Any opinions expressed must be accompanied by a complete rationale.

 

 

K. Parakkal

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Attorney for the Board	P.M. Johnson, 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.