Citation Nr: 21021078 Decision Date: 04/09/21 Archive Date: 04/09/21 DOCKET NO. 16-17 628 DATE: April 9, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for right hip strain is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from April 1987 to April 1989 and from December 1989 to September 2010 in the U.S. Army. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a July 2013 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Roanoke, Virginia. The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a Board hearing in August 2019; a copy of the transcript is of record. This matter was previously before the Board in November 2020, at which time the issue on appeal was remanded to obtain an addendum opinion. An opinion was obtained in December 2020; however, the Board finds that the opinion is inadequate for adjudication purposes. Although further delay is regrettable, the Board finds that remand is warranted to obtain an adequate VA opinion. Specifically, regarding direct service connection, the December 2020 opinion improperly relies on the lack of documentation of complaints of a hip injury in the Veteran’s service treatment records and does not adequately consider the Veteran’s statements. Moreover, the examiner stated that there is no evidence of a right hip disability until 2013, however the Veteran’s VA treatment records show that he has had hip pain since at least 2011. See VA Treatment Records received January 2017. Additionally, regarding secondary service connection, there is no indication that the December 2020 examiner considered the January 2020 opinion that the Veteran has other service-connected injuries that may have resulted in hip pain. Accordingly, the Board finds that an addendum opinion should be obtained on remand. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s right hip disability, diagnosed as right hip strain. The claims file must be made available for review by the clinician, including a copy of this Remand, and review should be noted. If an examination is deemed necessary to respond to the questions presented, one should be scheduled. After complete review of the claims file, the clinician should respond to the following: (a.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) the Veteran’s right hip disability had its onset during service or is etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The clinician should consider the Veteran’s contentions that his right hip disability is related to jumping out of planes during service, doing 12-mile road marches with a 35-pound ruck, or an in-service improvised explosive device (IED) blast. See August 2019 Hearing Testimony. Additionally, the clinician should consider the Veteran’s testimony that he has had pain in his right hip since he got back from Iraq. Id; see also November 2011 VA Application for Compensation or Pension. The opinion should be based on all evidence of record and not only what is documented in the service treatment records. The clinician is advised that an opinion based solely on lack of documentation in service and since is not sufficient. (b.) Whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s right hip disability is proximately due to or aggravated by any of the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities. The clinician should consider the January 2020 opinion that that the Veteran’s service-connected injuries may have resulted in hip pain. (Continued on the next page)   A complete rationale must be provided for all opinions offered. JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Kernen, 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.