Citation Nr: 23020401 Decision Date: 04/03/23 Archive Date: 04/03/23 DOCKET NO. 19-01 003 DATE: April 3, 2023 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from November 1985 to October 1987, September 2008 to January 2009, and from January 2009 to October 2013. This matter is before the Board on appeal from an October 2014 rating decision issued by a Regional Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a May 2022 Board Hearing. The hearing transcript has been associated with the claims file. In a November 2022 rating decision, service connection for a left knee condition was granted. This represents a full grant of the benefits sought, and the issue is no longer in appellate status. See Grantham v. Brown, 114 F. 3d 1156, 1158 (Fed. Cir. 1997). The record contains no indication that the Veteran has disagreed with the initial rating or effective date assigned, thus, those matters are not in appellate status. See Grantham, 114 F. 3d at 1158 (holding that a separate notice of disagreement must be filed to initiate appellate review of "downstream" elements such as the disability rating or effective date assigned). 1. Entitlement to service connection for a left hip condition is remanded. The Board finds that remand is warranted for an adequate VA opinion. The Veteran was provided with a VA examination for the hip in November 2022. He was diagnosed with left hip strain. The examiner opined that the Veteran's left hip condition was less likely than not related to service as there was scant evidence to support nexus. As there was no chronicity during or after service, a post-service event, illness, or injury was the more likely cause of the left hip condition. The Veteran underwent another VA examination in February 2023. He was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis of the left hip. No nexus opinion was provided. The Board finds that remand is warranted in order to obtain an adequate nexus opinion. The November 2022 VA opinion was wholly without rationale. A medical examination report must contain not only clear conclusions with supporting data, but also a reasoned medical explanation connecting the two. Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 295, 301 (2008). The examiner simply stated there was scant evidence of nexus and provided no other medical explanation or support. He then attributed the left hip condition to some post-service incident without specifying any injuries or illnesses within the record to support this contention. As such, remand is required. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the left hip condition from a VA examiner. The entire claims file must be made available to and be reviewed by the examiner. If an examination is deemed necessary, it shall be provided. An explanation for all opinions expressed must be provided. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the left hip condition had onset in, or is otherwise related to, active service. A rationale for the requested opinions should be provided. If the examiner finds that the requested opinion cannot be rendered without resorting to speculation, a thorough explanation as to why an opinion cannot be rendered should be provided. H.M. WALKER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board AK 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.