Citation Nr: 22018755 Decision Date: 03/30/22 Archive Date: 03/30/22 DOCKET NO. 17-55 081 DATE: March 30, 2022 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from March 1981 to January 1984. These matters come before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an October 2013 and July 2017 rating decisions issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) RO in Phoenix, Arizona. Specifically, the October 2013 rating decision continued a 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and denied service connection for bilateral foot, knee, and hip disorders. A July 2017 rating decision also granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, assigning a 20 percent disability rating effective November 15, 2011 and granted service connection for a left achilles injury, assigning a 10 percent disability rating effective November 15, 2011. This matter was previously before the Board in May 2019. In addition to entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder, the Board remanded claims for entitlement to a left foot disability, a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral hip disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left achilles injury. In November 2019, a Statement of the Case was issued for the claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals, left achilles injury. In November 2019, the Veteran filed a Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review (HLR), opting in to the AMA. In February 2020, the RO denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals, left achilles injury. The Veteran did not appeal this decision and it is final. A July 2020 rating decision granted service connection for a left foot disability, a bilateral knee disability and a bilateral hip disability. As this is considered a full grant of the benefits on appeal, these matters are no longer before the Board. The remaining issue on appeal is entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability The Veteran contends that her right foot disability is due to her service. The evidence of record demonstrates a positive nexus between the Veteran's service and her right foot disability. See December 2019 VA Examination. However, the examiner did not provide a diagnosis for the Veteran's right foot disability. Rather, the examiner found that "[t]he claimant is denying right foot condition at this time." However, the Veteran has not withdrawn her claim for service connection for a right foot disability, and the examiner's opinion leaves unclear the question of whether the Veteran has had a right foot disability during the appeal period. Consequently, this claim must be remanded for an addendum opinion. The matter is REMANDED for the following actions: 1. Obtain and associate with the claims file any VA or private treatment records from July 2019. 2. Obtain an addendum opinion to determine whether any right foot disability diagnosed from the date of the claim (i.e., from November 2011) are as due to the Veteran's service. 3. The examiner should identify each diagnosed right foot disability the Veteran has presented related to her right foot disorders at any time during the claim period. 4. For each diagnosis, the examiner shall opine as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that such condition: (1) had its onset during the Veteran's service; or (2) otherwise results from or was caused by any injury or disease that occurred in service. 5. In so opining, the examiner should consider all medical and lay evidence of record. 6. The examiner must address in-service treatment for any foot disabilities. Failure to do so will result in an inadequate examination. 7. A complete rationale should be given for each opinion expressed. In this regard, a discussion of the facts and medical principles involved would be of considerable assistance to the Board. Z. SAHRAIE Acting Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board Kelsey Love, 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.