Citation Nr: 21068029 Decision Date: 11/08/21 Archive Date: 11/08/21 DOCKET NO. 15-15 793 DATE: November 8, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a skin condition, to include candida, is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from January 1991 to September 1991 and from August 1995 to July 2001, with additional periods of reserve service. This matter came before the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2014 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veteran's Law Judge during a June 2018 hearing. The transcript of the hearing is of record. A September 2018 Board decision remanded the issues on appeal for further development. The Board notes that the Veteran's representative contended in the October 2021 submission that the Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating due to unemployability (TDIU). The Board has no jurisdiction over this issue. If the Veteran wishes to get a TDIU, he is invited to file the appropriate claim. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a skin condition, to include candida The September 2018 Board remand requested the Veteran's VA treatment records. February 2019 VA treatment records noted that the Veteran had skin rashes and a recurrent candidiasis infection. An August 2014 VA examination found that the Veteran did not have a current skin diagnosis. However, the Veteran has since been diagnosed with candida. Accordingly, the Board finds that the Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his current skin condition. 2. Entitlement to service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability The Veteran contends that his left knee disability was caused by his right knee disability. The September 2018 Board decision requested a new VA examination and opinion regarding secondary service connection. A VA examination was conducted in May 2021. However, the Board notes that while the May 2021 VA examiner addressed whether the left knee disability was likely caused by the service-connected right knee disability, the examiner did not provide an opinion regarding aggravation. As the examiner did not address the issue of aggravation, the opinion is inadequate. See El-Amin v. Shinseki, 26 Vet. App. 136, 14041 (2013); Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 439 (1995). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination, to determine the etiology of any current skin disability. The examiner should review the file and provide a complete rationale for all opinions expressed. Please identify any skin disability(ies) diagnosed at any point during the appeal period. The examiner is advised the treatment records show a diagnosis of recurrent candidiasis. For any current skin disability found to be diagnosed at any point during the appeal period, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any such disability is related to the Veteran's active service. In providing the opinion, the examiner should consider and discuss any lay statements of record, to include the Veteran's statements regarding the onset and persistence of his symptoms. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination, to determine the etiology of any current left knee disability. The examiner should review the file and provide a complete rationale for all opinions expressed. For any current left knee disability found to be diagnosed, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any such disability is related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. In providing the opinion, the examiner should consider and discuss whether his left knee disability was at least as likely as not aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected right knee disability. The examiner should also consider and discuss any lay statements of record, to include the Veteran's statements regarding the onset and persistence of his symptoms. (Continued on next page) 3. If upon completion of the above action the appeal remains denied, the case should be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures. E. I. VELEZ Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Y. Akkad 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.