Citation Nr: 21015276 Decision Date: 03/17/21 Archive Date: 03/17/21 DOCKET NO. 13-27 529 DATE: March 17, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from January 1967 to November 1969. A videoconference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge was held in August 2016. The hearing transcript has been associated with the record. In August 2020, the Board remanded for an opinion as to whether it was at least as likely as not that a service-connected disability caused or contributed to the Veteran’s obesity. The Board requested consideration of the medical articles cited in the July 2020 appellate brief. Although an opinion was obtained in October 2020, the Board finds the opinion does not sufficiently address the question posed by the Board. Specifically, the Board finds the record would benefit if an additional opinion were obtained as to whether the psychiatric disability caused or contributed to the Veteran’s obesity and if so whether that obesity caused or aggravated the Veteran’s left knee disorder. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain a medical opinion as to whether the Veteran’s left knee disorder was caused or aggravated by the service-connected psychiatric disability. All pertinent evidence of record must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. The medical professional should state an opinion whether it is at least as likely as not that a service connected psychiatric disability caused or contributed to his obesity. If the medical professional determines the obesity is associated with a service-connected disability or is unable to make that determination, the medical professional should state whether it is as likely as not that the obesity caused or aggravated the Veteran’s left knee disorder. The medical professional must provide a rationale for all opinions expressed, with consideration of the medical articles cited in the July 2020 appellate brief. If the medical professional is unable to provide any required opinion, the medical professional should explain why. If the medical professional cannot provide an opinion without resorting to mere speculation, a complete explanation as to why this is so should be provided. If the inability to provide a more definitive opinion is the result of a need for additional information, the additional information that is needed should be identified. T. REYNOLDS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board N. Snyder, 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.