Citation Nr: 21042069 Decision Date: 07/11/21 Archive Date: 07/11/21 DOCKET NO. 17-04 254 DATE: July 11, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for residuals, Baker's cyst (claimed as left knee injury) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran service on active duty from October 1985 to December 1989. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a November 2014 rating decision. Entitlement to service connection for residuals Baker's cyst (claimed as left knee injury) is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied because the AOJ (agency of original jurisdiction) found that he has no current chronic disability that is related to his in-service Baker's cyst and removal. This finding was based on the November 2014 VA examination, which found the Veteran had no current diagnosis of the left knee. The Board notes the record shows the Veteran is currently being treated for torn medial meniscus, which was shown by MRI in October 2015. Further, the November 2014 VA examiner noted that the Veteran was planning to bring in records from 2005, when he had a left knee meniscus repair. The Veteran asserts that his current meniscus injury is the same as or related to a meniscus injury that he had during service, which he asserts was not ever diagnosed and therefore not treated until later. In the alternative, he asserts that any current disability, including his current meniscus tear, is related to the Baker's cysts he had during service, and the surgery to remove the first one. The duty to assist requires that the VA provide a VA medical examination when necessary to decide the claim. 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 83 (2006). Once an examination has been provided, the Board must ensure that it is adequate. Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 311 (2007). The VA examiner was not provided with updated evidence, and therefore the examination report is inadequate. The Board regrets the further delay but finds that a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran full consideration of his claim. An updated medical examination and opinion is necessary, on whether the torn meniscus cartilage existed during service or is otherwise related to the Baker's cyst in service, or its removal. Accordingly, the matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain updated VA treatment records. 2. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for an updated VA examination. The examiner is asked to conduct a thorough examination, and to provide a list of left knee diagnoses. The examiner is advised the Veteran has been diagnosed with medial meniscus tear in October 2015. For each diagnosis, the examiner is asked whether it is as least as likely as not (50/50 probability or greater) that it is related to his service. The examiner is asked to review the record prior to the examination and to elicit from the Veteran a detailed history of his symptoms. The Veteran asserts he has had left knee trouble since his service. He asserts that the Baker's cysts he had in service were due to an undiagnosed meniscal tear, and that he still has the meniscal tear currently. In the alternative, he asserts that any current diagnosis is related to the Baker's cysts he had in service, or the surgery to remove the first one. The examiner is advised that his STRs show Baker's cysts in June 1986 and August 1989. Private treatment records from September 2004 note recurrence of Baker's cyst; and a December 2004 MRI showed a tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and remnant of popliteal cyst. Records from October 2015 show medial meniscus tear. All opinions must be accompanied with explanation. Nathaniel J. Doan Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Brooks, Jasmine 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.