Citation Nr: 21031425 Decision Date: 05/21/21 Archive Date: 05/21/21 DOCKET NO. 18-32 256 DATE: May 21, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left forearm disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded. Entitlement service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded. Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from January 1983 to September 2003. In February 2021, the Veteran testified at a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is of record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a left forearm disorder is remanded. 3. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded. 4. Entitlement service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded. 5. Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. With respect to the Veteran's claims seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left forearm disorder, and right and left knee disorders, the Board finds that a remand is necessary, so the Veteran can be provided with VA examinations considering the etiology of those disorders. At the February 2021 Board hearing, the Veteran testified that he experiences symptoms of an acquired psychiatric disorder that are related to his observation of the aftermath of a stabbing during his active duty service. He also testified that he experiences symptoms of a left forearm disorder that are related to a left forearm injury that he sustained when he slipped on rocks while participating in a training exercise during his active duty service. Finally, he testified that his right and left knee disorders are related an in-service incident, where he slipped on ice and injured his knees. The Veteran's post-service treatment records, including October 2013, November 2016, and May 2017 treatment records reflect that he has sought treatment for these disorders. In this case, the Board finds that the Veteran's competent and credible testimony at the February 2021 Board hearing, in conjunction with his post-service treatment records, reflect that he may have an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left forearm disorder, and right and left knee disorders, and that these disorders may be related to his active duty service. Accordingly, the Veteran should be provided with VA examinations to determine whether he has a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left forearm disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder, and the nature, severity, and etiology of any diagnosed disorders. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006). With respect to the Veteran's claim seeking a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's testimony at the February 2021 Board hearing suggests that his bilateral hearing loss has worsened. Therefore, he should be afforded a new examination to accurately assess the current extent and severity of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability. See 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.326, 3.327; Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400, 403 (1997). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain any and all treatment records from the James E. Van Zandt Medical Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the State College VA Outpatient Clinic in State College, Pennsylvania, and any other VA facility from which the Veteran has received treatment, since July 2017. If the Veteran has received additional private treatment, he should be afforded an appropriate opportunity to submit the medical records of such treatment. 2. Schedule the Veteran for VA examinations by an appropriate clinician, or clinicians, to determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left forearm disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder, and the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, left forearm disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The claims file should be provided to the examiner(s) for review. All indicated studies deemed necessary by the examiner(s) should be performed, and all findings of those tests should be reported in detail. The examiner(s) should provide opinions as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, left forearm disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are etiologically related to the Veteran's period of active duty service. In providing the foregoing opinions, it would be of great assistance to the Board if the examiner(s) addressed the Veteran's testimony at the February 2021 Board hearing, including, without limitation, his contentions that (i) his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his observation of the aftermath of a stabbing during his active duty service, (ii) his left forearm disorder is related to an injury to his left forearm that occurred when he slipped on rocks while participating in a training exercise during his active duty service, and (iii) his right and left knee disorders are related to an injury to his knees that he sustained when he slipped and fell on ice during his active duty service. If the examiner(s) cannot provide any of the requested opinions without resorting to speculation, he or she should provide an explanation stating why this is so. In so doing, the examiner should explain whether the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information or that he or she has exhausted the limits of current medical knowledge in providing an answer to that particular question(s). 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current extent and severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The claims folder should be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. All tests deemed necessary should be conducted and the results reported in detail. If the examiner is unable to conduct the required testing or concludes that the required testing is not necessary in this case, he or she should clearly explain why that is so. 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. B.T. KNOPE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Crosnicker, Associate Counsel