Citation Nr: 21075350 Decision Date: 12/20/21 Archive Date: 12/20/21 DOCKET NO. 15-37 959 DATE: December 20, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition is remanded. Entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service in the United States Army from January 1973 to December 1974. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); this case is in VA's legacy appeals system. In November 2018, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge; a transcript of that hearing is of record. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip condition, right knee condition, and left ankle condition At his November 2018 Board hearing, the Veteran argued that his unpredictable left leg numbness and giving out caused or aggravated his other claimed lower extremity conditions. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decisions on the issues of service-connection for right hip condition, right knee condition, or left ankle condition, because no VA examiner has opined whether one or more service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 with intervertebral disc disease involving nerve roots L4-S1 on left and left sciatic nerve, caused or aggravated the Veteran's claimed conditions. A remand is required to obtain these opinions. 2. Entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) Finally, because a decision on the remanded issues of service-connection for right hip condition, right knee condition, and left ankle condition could significantly impact a decision on the issue of entitlement to a TDIU, the issues are inextricably intertwined. A remand of the claims for entitlement to a TDIU is required. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's claimed right hip condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to one or more service-connected disabilities or aggravated beyond its natural progression by one or more service-connected disabilities. The examiner must address the Veteran's statement that his service-connected degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 with intervertebral disc disease involving nerve roots L4-S1 on left and left sciatic nerve causes his left leg to go numb and give out, which he claims caused or aggravated his right hip condition. There is conflicting evidence as to whether or not the Veteran has a current right hip condition. For purposes of this opinion the examiner should accept the January 2021 VA examiner's diagnosis of hip strain. 2. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's claimed right knee condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to one or more service-connected disabilities or aggravated beyond its natural progression by one or more service-connected disabilities. The examiner must address the Veteran's statement that his service-connected degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 with intervertebral disc disease involving nerve roots L4-S1 on left and left sciatic nerve causes his left leg to go numb and give out, which he claims caused or aggravated his right knee condition. There is conflicting evidence as to whether or not the Veteran has a current right knee condition. For purposes of this opinion the examiner should accept the January 2021 VA examiner's diagnosis of knee strain. 3. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's claimed left ankle condition is at least as likely as not proximately due to one or more service-connected disabilities or aggravated beyond its natural progression by one or more service-connected disabilities. The examiner must address the Veteran's statement that his service-connected degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 with intervertebral disc disease involving nerve roots L4-S1 on left and left sciatic nerve causes his left leg to go numb and give out, which he claims caused or aggravated his left ankle condition. There is conflicting evidence as to whether or not the Veteran has a current left ankle condition. For purposes of this opinion the examiner should accept the January 2021 VA examiner's diagnosis of ankle strain. 4. After the above development, and any additionally indicated development, has been completed, readjudicate the issues on appeal. If any benefit sought is not granted to the Veteran's satisfaction, send the Veteran and his representative a Supplemental Statement of the Case and provide an opportunity to respond. If necessary, return the case to the Board for further appellate review. L. M. BARNARD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Zimmerman, Micah 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.