Citation Nr: 21077531 Decision Date: 12/30/21 Archive Date: 12/30/21 DOCKET NO. 03-17 292 DATE: December 30, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disability, to include on a secondary basis, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from June 1974 to June 1978. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2000 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). While this case has a long history, most recently, in October 2021, the Board remanded the matter to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development. It has since returned for further appellate review but unfortunately, as explained below, the Board regretfully finds that another remand is necessary. The Veteran contends that her bilateral hip disability was caused by her active duty service. See December 2021 Substantive Brief. Alternatively, she has asserted that her bilateral hip disability is secondary to her service-connected fibromyalgia, low back, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities. See September 2021 Correspondence. As part of the October 2021 remand, the Board instructed the AOJ to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hip disability was caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability, to include her back disability. It was noted that the full list of the Veteran's service connected disabilities was provided in a May 2021 rating decision code sheet. In July 2021, Dr. J. R. stated that the Veteran had osteoarthritis, but "a significant amount of her pain (30-60%) in her hips was due to radicular pain from her established lumbar disease." Her bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is already service-connected. Her bilateral hip disability is arthritis, and Dr. J. R. did not provide an opinion regarding arthritis. An October 2021 addendum VA medical opinion was obtained where the examiner only discussed whether her bilateral hip disability was secondary to her service-connected low back disability. The rationale provided was not sufficient as the examiner discussed the Veteran's service treatment records and then concluded that the Veteran's hip was secondary to aging and chronic overuse of the hip joints over many years and is independent of her low back condition. The Board finds that there was not substantial compliance with the remand directives as the examiner failed to provide an adequate medical opinion and further, failed to discuss the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities. See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: The claims file should be sent to an appropriate examiner to review and to offer an opinion as to whether the current bilateral hip disability (bilateral osteoarthritis) is at least as likely as not (a) caused by, or (b) aggravated by (worsened beyond natural progression) by any service-connected disabilities, to include fibromyalgia, low back, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knees. The full list of her service connected disabilities is provided in a May 2021 rating decision code sheet. In offering the opinion, the examiner is asked to consider the July 2021 VA medical opinion by Dr. J.R. who opined that the Veteran's hip pain is due to radicular pain from her low back disability. The examiner should also consider the medical literature submitted by the Veteran. The need for an examination is left to the discretion of the examiner. A rationale for all opinions offered is requested as adjudicators are precluded from making any medical findings. D. Martz Ames Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board M. Mathew 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.