Citation Nr: 21023285 Decision Date: 04/20/21 Archive Date: 04/20/21 DOCKET NO. 13-31 008A DATE: April 20, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a back disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1967 to August 1971.      In March 2018, he testified at a videoconference hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge.  A transcript of that hearing is of record.  The appeal was most recently before the Board in  September 2018 when it was remanded for further development.  There has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and the claims must be remanded again.  Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268 (1998).    Entitlement to service connection for a back disability is remanded. The September 2018 remand directed the examiner to provide nexus opinions on all diagnosed back disabilities. The Board specifically identified diagnoses of lumbar stenosis, degenerative joint disease of the spine, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine during the period on appeal. The January 2020 VA examination and December 2020 addendum opinion only identified and provided the etiology of the degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease. Accordingly, a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion addressing on all back disabilities diagnosed during the period on appeal. Entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability is remanded. The September 2018 remand directed the examiner to provide nexus opinions on all diagnosed hip disabilities. The Board specifically diagnoses of bilateral hip strain and arthritis during the period on appeal. The January 2020 VA examination and December 2020 addendum opinion only identified and provided the etiology of the osteoarthritis and right hip joint replacement. Accordingly, a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion addressing on all hip disabilities diagnosed during the period on appeal. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded. In the September 2018 remand, the Board specifically identified diagnoses of bilateral knee strain and arthritis during the period on appeal. The January 2020 VA examination and December 2020 addendum did not address all diagnoses. Accordingly, a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion addressing on all hip disabilities diagnosed during the period on appeal. On remand, updated treatment records should be obtained.  See 38 C.F.R. § 3.159. See also Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992).    The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the names and addresses of all medical care providers who treated the Veteran for any back, hip, or knee complaints since service not already associated with the record.  After securing the necessary release, take all appropriate action to obtain these records, including any VA treatment records since September 2020.   2. After the completion of the above, obtain an addendum opinion (with examination or telehealth interview if deemed necessary by the provider) from the examiner who provided the December 2020 VA addendum opinion, (or from another appropriate provider if the December 2020 examiner is unavailable).  Copies of all pertinent records, including this remand, must be made available to the examiner for review.  Based on the review of the record (and examination if needed), the examiner should answer the following:     (a) Identify all diagnosed back disabilities since October 2009, to include lumbar stenosis, degenerative joint disease of the spine, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. For each currently diagnosed back disability, is it at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including the Veteran’s in-service fall from a truck and exposure to extreme cold weather while in service? Why or why not?  (b) Identify all currently diagnosed hip disabilities since October 2009, to include bilateral hip strain and arthritis. For each currently diagnosed hip disability, is it at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including exposure to extreme cold weather while in service? Why or why not?  (c) Identify all currently diagnosed knee disabilities since October 2009, to include bilateral knee strain and arthritis. For each currently diagnosed knee disability, is it at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including exposure to extreme cold weather while in service? Why or why not?  In answering these questions, the examiner should consider and discuss as necessary the Veteran’s lay statements that his back, hip, and knees disabilities began during service and that he had continued symptomatology since service and the May 2012 and August 2013 opinions from the Veteran’s private provider. The examiner must explain the rationale for all opinions in detail, citing to supporting clinical data and/or medical literature, as appropriate.  If an opinion cannot be provided, the examiner should indicate why.   M.E. Larkin Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Eric Struening 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.