Citation Nr: 21068788 Decision Date: 11/12/21 Archive Date: 11/12/21 DOCKET NO. 18-19 781 DATE: November 12, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for left leg nerve impingement syndrome is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right hip osteoarthritis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the Army from October 1978 to September 1982. This case comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on an appeal from an October 2016 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office. The Veteran testified before the undersigned at a Board videoconference hearing in November 2020, and a copy of the hearing transcript has been obtained and associated with the record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for left leg nerve impingement syndrome is remanded. The Veteran appeals his denial of service connection for left leg nerve impingement syndrome. The Veteran testified that the pain and numbness in his left leg began the day of his injury during airborne school. The Veteran was afforded a VA examination in July 2016 for his lower leg condition. The examiner opined that the Veteran's leg condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event, or illness. He continued by saying the Veteran clarified his complaint was of his right knee condition, but noted he was seen for a left quadricep strain during service, concluding that the Veteran's right knee condition was a consequence of time spent for injuries occurred in airborne training. However, the examiner did not provide an opinion and adequate rationale as to whether the Veteran's left leg impingement was incurred in or due to service. Therefore, the Board finds the examination to be inadequate and that a remand is necessary. The Veteran should be afforded a new examination and the examiner should provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left leg impingement, to include the Veteran's complaints of pain since service and his in-service left quadricep injury. See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). 2. Entitlement to service connection for right hip osteoarthritis is remanded. The Veteran appeals his denial of service connection for his right hip osteoarthritis. He claims he has had right hip pain since service and testified at his November 2020 Board hearing that his right hip pain began when he strained his left knee. The Veteran' also contends that his service-connected left knee strain caused his gait to alter, making his right hip condition worse. The Veteran was afforded a VA examination for his right hip in July 2016. The examiner opined that the Veteran's right hip condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event, or illness. The examiner discussed there being a single occasion for complaints of right hip discomfort in service and that he was diagnosed with a "vein condition" upon separation from military service. He then concluded that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of his right hip, which ultimately required right total hip arthroplasty, was not a consequence of time spent in military service. However, the examiner failed to address the Veteran's statements concerning having right hip pain since service and that his left knee strain caused a worsening of his right hip osteoarthritis. Therefore, the Board finds the examination to be inadequate and a remand is necessary for a new examination regarding the etiology and causes, as well as the Veteran's statements that he has had pain since service and that his left knee strain has caused a worsening of his right hip condition. See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007). The matters are REMANDED for the following actions: The Veteran should be afforded a VA examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left leg and right hip conditions. The examiner must consider the Veteran's statements concerning his continuous pain since service and that his injuries during service caused his pain. The examiner must review the entire claims file, including a copy of this remand. The examiner is asked to provide responses to the following: (a.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or better probability) that the Veteran's left leg condition had onset in or is otherwise related to the Veteran's military service. (b.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or better probability) that the Veteran's right hip condition had onset in or is otherwise related to the Veteran's military service. (c.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or better probability) that the Veteran's right hip condition is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected left knee strain residuals. Aggravation means an increase in disability any additional impairment of earning capacity - of the nonservice-connected disability. If aggravation is found, the examiner must attempt to establish a baseline level of severity of the diagnosed disability prior to aggravation by the service-connected disability. All examiners must review the entire claims folders, including a copy of this remand. A complete rationale must be provided for all opinions expressed. If the requested opinion cannot be provided without resort to speculation, he or she should explain why this is so and what, if any, additional evidence would be necessary before an opinion could be rendered, and why that evidence cannot be obtained. J. B. FREEMAN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Doerfler, 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.