Citation Nr: 21077569 Decision Date: 12/30/21 Archive Date: 12/30/21 DOCKET NO. 20-12 164 DATE: December 30, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for left hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right hip condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for back condition is remanded. Entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status is remanded. Entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Army from July 1960 to July 1962. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2018 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran testified at a November 2021 hearing. 1. Bilateral Hip Condition and Back Condition Regrettably, the Board finds a remand is warranted for further development. Specifically, the Board finds the April 2018 VA medical opinion, in light of accompanying commentary, is inadequate. In the April 2018 VA medical opinion, the examiner opined that the Veteran's left hip condition, right hip condition, and back condition, which clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, were clearly and unmistakably not aggravated beyond natural progression by an in-service injury, event, or illness. The examiner, however, further stated that the "Veteran entered into service in 1960 and had no right or left hip condition at the time." Furthermore, the examiner stated that when the Veteran entered service, he had no complaints of back pain and did not have a diagnosed back condition prior to service. The Board finds the examiner's statements contradict the medical opinion, insofar as suggesting that these conditions did not preexist service. A further opinion, with a consistent rationale, is thus needed here. 2. SMC based on housebound and aid and attendance The claims for SMC based on both housebound and aid and attendance are inextricably intertwined with the remanded issues and are deferred pending completion of the requested development. Harris v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 180, 183 (1991) (issues are "inextricably intertwined" when a decision on one issue would have a "significant impact" on a veteran's claim for the second issue). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with a qualified medical professional regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed right and left hip and back conditions. (Multiple examinations may be conducted, if deemed necessary.) The examiner must review the claims file, and address the following with a supporting rationale: (a.) The examiner should determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of a right or left hip or back condition, to include a functional impairment of earning capacity. If neither is shown with one or both of these disorders, the examiner must so explain. (b.) If either a firm diagnosis or a functional impairment of earning capacity is found for one or more of the three disabilities, determine whether such disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and, if so, whether such disability clearly and unmistakably was NOT aggravated by service. (c.) For each diagnosed disability, determine whether it is at least as likely as not (an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence) that such disability is etiologically related to service. (d.) If hip and back conditions are found, provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the back condition was caused or aggravated by a hip condition. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Glaeser, Jennifer 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.