Citation Nr: 21068434 Decision Date: 11/10/21 Archive Date: 11/10/21 DOCKET NO. 14-41 169 DATE: November 10, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran who had active service from November 1983 to November 1986. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from the June 2011 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). This matter was previously before the Board and remanded for further development in May 2018 and December 2020. The matter has been returned to the Board for further appellate proceedings. Entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition is remanded. The Veteran asserts that his left ankle condition is attributable to parachute jumps he participated in during service. The Veteran's DD214 reflects that he received a parachutist badge. His service records contain an Individual Jump Record reflecting that the Veteran participated in 20 jumps from June 1984 to October 1986. A March 2011 VA x-ray of the ankles revealed calcific enthesopathy of the left calcaneal bone and minor abnormality of the left ankle. In response to the December 2020 remand directives, the Veteran was afforded a VA ankle examination in March 2021. A diagnosis of left ankle calcific enthesopathy was noted, which is being treated with Meloxicam. The Veteran reported that his left ankle condition began gradually during service and is related to the excess physical activity, to include parachute jumps with multiple bad landings; and has continued to worsen. He also reported that he never sought medical attention. He reported that he had left ankle intermittent pain to dorsal aspect of his ankle with occasional numbness/tingling. No evidence of pain with weight bearing or objective evidence of crepitus was noted. The examiner indicated that the Veteran's range of motion was normal. The examiner noted that there was no objective evidence to support the Veteran's claimed left ankle condition and that no diagnosis was warranted. The examiner opined that the Veteran's claimed left ankle condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service parachute jumps. The rationale provided was that the Veteran's service medical records are silent for any left ankle condition, treatment, or medication. The Board finds that the March 2021 opinion is inadequate for rating purposes because the examiner did not address the Veteran's history of jumps during service, his current diagnosis, or lay statements regarding pain and numbness and tingling. The Board finds the examiner's direct service connection opinion to be conclusory and based on a lack of corroborating medical evidence in the Veteran's service treatment record. While the lack of contemporaneous treatment records is a factor that can be considered, it cannot be the sole basis for the opinion. See Dalton v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 23 (2007). Further, medical opinions that rely solely on the absence of evidence in service treatment records are inadequate. See id. As such, the Board finds that an addendum medical opinion is necessary in order to adequately address the Veteran's contentions regarding etiology of his current left ankle condition. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current left ankle disability. The claims file and a copy of this REMAND must be reviewed by the appropriate examiner. The need for an additional examination of the Veteran is left to the discretion of the clinician selected to write the medical opinion. The VA examiner is asked to opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current left ankle disability, to include calcific enthesopathy of the left calcaneal bone and minor abnormality, is related to his active duty military service, to include his many jumps as a parachutist. In rendering the opinion, the examiner should address the service records contain an Individual Jump Record reflecting that the Veteran participated in 20 jumps from June 1984 to October 1986; a March 2011 VA x-ray of the ankles revealing calcific enthesopathy of the left calcaneal bone and minor abnormality of the left ankle; and the Veteran's lay statements. A complete rationale for all opinions should be provided. If the examiner cannot render an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, a full explanation for why an opinion cannot be rendered should be provided. A. J. Spector Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board C. Camille NeSmith, Associate 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.