Citation Nr: 18141090 Decision Date: 10/09/18 Archive Date: 10/09/18 DOCKET NO. 16-15 376A DATE: October 9, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from June 1972 to September 1977. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of a September 2013 rating decision of the Huntington, West Virginia, Regional Office (RO) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 1. Entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee is remanded. 3. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities is remanded. The Veteran appeared for a VA examination as to the low back in February 2016. The examiner diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Veteran reported low back pain with onset during service. The examiner stated that the low back condition is less likely as not proximately due to or the result of the Veteran’s service-connected condition, stating, “[a]rthritis in one joint does not cause arthritis in another joint. Medical literature does not support this. A nexus has not been established.” The Veteran appeared for a VA examination as to the bilateral hips in February 2016. The examiner diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the left hip and hip strain of the right hip. The Veteran reported bilateral hip pain with onset during service. The examiner stated that the bilateral hip condition is less likely as not proximately due to or the result of the Veteran’s service-connected condition, stating, “[a]rthritis in one joint does not cause arthritis in another joint. Medical literature does not support this. A nexus has not been established.” A new VA examination is required to obtain an opinion with adequate rationale. The examination must address direct service connection especially considering the Veteran’s claim he suffered low back and bilateral hip pain since service. Further, an opinion is required to address whether the service-connected bilateral ankle and left knee caused or aggravated the low back and/or bilateral hips with reasoning specific to the Veteran’s case. Further, the Veteran has made additional contentions which must be addressed by a medical opinion. In the Veteran’s Substantive Appeal, the Veteran stated that his service-connected disabilities have caused overuse and altered gait which has impacted his low back and bilateral hip disabilities. The new opinion is requested to address these contentions and discuss the scholarly articles submitted by the Veteran on this topic. Further, during the VA examination, the Veteran indicated he is in receipt of SSA benefits. VA is obligated to obtain records of the Social Security Administration if there is a reasonable possibility that the records could help substantiate the claim. See Golz v. Shinseki, 590 F.3d 1317, 1322 (2010). The records have not been obtained. The Board finds there is a reasonable possibility that the records could help the Veteran and the RO should request the Social Security Records upon remand. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact the Social Security Administration and request that SSA provide VA with the Veteran’s complete SSA records, including any administrative decision(s) on his application for SSA disability benefits and all underlying medical records. A copy of any records obtained from SSA, to include a negative reply, should be included in the claims file. All records received must be added to VBMS. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Please address the Veteran’s contentions he suffered low back pain with onset during service. Please opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability, specifically, service-connected bilateral ankles and left knee. Please address the Veteran’s contentions that his service-connected disabilities, bilateral ankle and left knee, have caused overuse and altered gait which has impacted his low back disability. Please discuss the scholarly articles submitted by the Veteran on this topic. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of his left and right hip disabilities. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Please address the Veteran’s contentions he suffered bilateral hip pain with onset during service. Please opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability, specifically, service-connected bilateral ankles and left knee. Please address the Veteran’s contentions that his service-connected disabilities, bilateral ankle and left knee, have caused overuse and altered gait which has impacted his bilateral hip disabilities. Please discuss the scholarly articles submitted by the Veteran on this topic. 4. When the above has been completed, the case should again be reviewed by the RO or the AMC, to address whether the Veteran is entitled to service connection of the low back, left and/or right hips. If the benefits sought are not granted, the Veteran and her representative should be furnished a Statement of the Case, and be afforded a reasonable opportunity to respond before the record is returned to the Board for further review. KRISTI L. GUNN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD K. M. Georgiev