Citation Nr: 21076201 Decision Date: 12/22/21 Archive Date: 12/22/21 DOCKET NO. 17-54 709 DATE: December 22, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for bilateral knee disability is remanded. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded. Service connection for right groin strain, to include right hip strain, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from September 1992 to September 1997. The Veteran filed a claim for right groin strain. A May 2017 VA examination assessed reported right groin pain was right hip strain. The claim has been recharacterized as service connection for right groin strain, to include right hip strain. Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009) (holding that when a claimant makes a claim, he is seeking service connection for symptoms regardless of how those symptoms are diagnosed or labeled). The Veteran appeared for a hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) in April 2021. The hearing transcript is associated with the claims file. 1. Service connection for bilateral knee disability 2. Service connection for IBS 3. Service connection for right groin strain, to include right hip strain The Veteran contends her bilateral knee disability started in basic training, related to extensive running, pain continued through active duty, related to her duties serving as military police. Service treatment records (STR) show a January 1996 visit for shin pain, after 5 minutes of running, radiating between knee and calves. The Veteran contends her IBS symptoms started when she got back from Haiti during service, related to a parasite and/or the food provided, to include Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) and "T-rats". STR show visits for nausea, noting the Veteran was pregnant. The Veteran contends right groin pain started during basic training and continued through active duty. STR show an April 1993 visit for pulled muscle in right hip, 2 to 3 months, pulling sensation into right groin, assessing groin injury. The Board requests a medical opinion addressing whether the claimed disabilities are related to service, to include consideration of the above STRs and cotentions. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding the etiology of the Veteran's (a.) bilateral knee disability, (b.) IBS, and (c.) right groin strain, to include right hip strain. An in-person examination is not required unless deemed necessary by the clinician. (a.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) the Veteran's knee disability, manifested during service or is related to service? The clinician should discuss (i.) STR showing a January 1996 visit for shin pain, after 5 minutes of running, radiating between knee and calves and (ii.) the Veteran's contention her knee disability started in basic training, related to extensive running, then pain continued through active duty, related to her duties serving as military police. See April 2021 hearing testimony. (b.) Is it at least as likely as not the Veteran's IBS manifested during service or is related to service? The clinician should discuss (i.) STR showing nausea and (ii.) the Veteran's contention her IBS symptoms started when she got back from Haiti during service, related to a parasite or the food provided, to include MREs and T-rats. See April 2021 hearing testimony. (c.) Is it at least as likely as not the Veteran's groin strain manifested during service or is related to service? The clinician should discuss (i.) STR showing an April 1993 visit for pulled muscle in right hip, 2 to 3 months, pulling sensation into right groin, assessing groin injury and (ii.) the Veteran's contention that groin pain started during basic training, with pain continuing during active service. See April 2021 hearing testimony. In answering (a)-(c), the clinician should consider the Veteran's description of her in-service injury/symptoms in relation to her post-service symptoms/diagnosis. If there is any medical reason to accept or reject the proposition that the reported in-service injury/symptoms represented the onset of her current disability, this should be noted. Stated another way, do the Veteran's reported symptoms align with how the currently diagnosed disability is known to develop or are the Veteran's reports generally inconsistent with medical knowledge or implausible? KELLI A. KORDICH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Winkler, 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.