Citation Nr: 21014630 Decision Date: 03/15/21 Archive Date: 03/15/21 DOCKET NO. 10-22 677 DATE: March 15, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served honorably on active duty in the United States Navy from January 1989 to January 1993. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2009 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In June 2012, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. The procedural history of the claim for service connection for HIV/AIDS is length. Most recently, the Board denied the Veteran’s claim in a February 2019 decision. The Veteran appealed that denial to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). Pursuant to a July 2020 memorandum decision, the Court remanded the matter back to the Board for further adjudication. The Veteran separately appealed the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder. That issue will not be addressed because the Veteran requested a hearing as part of that appeal. The Board cannot make a fully informed decision on the issue of service connection for HIV/AIDS. The Veteran has contended that there is a relationship between his positive HIV positive status and his history of proteinuria. In December 2020, the Veteran was service connected for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). During development for that claim, the RO obtained a medical opinion on whether the Veteran’s HIV was at least as likely as not proximately due to or the result of his FSGS. In December 2020, a VA physician opined that it was less likley than not that the Veteran’s HIV was caused by his FSGS. This opinion is inadequate as the examiner did not opine if the Veteran’s HIV was aggravated beyond its natural progression by his FSGS. This is not the correct standard for secondary service connection. As such, a remand is necessary to obtain an adendum opinion. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran’s HIV/AIDS is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) proximately due to his service-connected FSGS, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected FSGS. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Michael Chandeck, 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.