Citation Nr: 21026279 Decision Date: 04/30/21 Archive Date: 04/30/21 DOCKET NO. 16-33 564 DATE: April 30, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected left knee strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force, including from January 1972 to September 1975. In the July 2016 VA Form 9, the Veteran requested a hearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board). In June 2019, the Veteran withdrew his request for a hearing. The Board remanded right knee and sleep apnea service connection claims in April 2020 to conduct further development. During the pendency of the appeal, in an August 2020 rating decision, the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) granted entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. As the decision represents a full grant of the benefit sought, the issue is no longer before the Board. See Grantham v. Brown, 114 F.3d 1156 (Fed. Cir. 1997). In accordance with previous remand directives, the Veteran was provided with a VA examination and nexus opinion in August 2020 to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s right knee disability. The examiner provided a negative nexus opinion in accordance with the remand directives. However, the Veteran, through his authorized representative, raised the theory of secondary service connection in the March 2020 Motion. The Veteran contends that the right knee disability is secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. To date, there has been no VA opinion which addresses the secondary theory of entitlement. Therefore, an addendum opinion is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s right knee disability. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Request an addendum opinion with an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disability (an examination may be conducted if deemed necessary). The Veteran’s claims file, including this REMAND, must be made available to and reviewed by the clinician. The examiner is asked to address the following: Provide a current diagnosis for any right knee disability present during the appellate period (since March 2014); Provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any diagnosed disability was incurred during or was caused by active duty service; Provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed disability was caused by his service-connected left knee disability; and Provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed disability was aggravated by (increased in severity) his service-connected left knee disability. The clinician must provide a complete rationale for the opinion and conclusion reached, citing the objective medical findings leading to the conclusion. Only if deemed necessary should a VA examination be conducted; it is not required by this remand. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board B. N. Quarles, 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.