The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee, right ankle, left hip, low back strain, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), headaches, right shoulder condition, and heart conditions. These issues involve secondary service connection.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including those related to his service-connected flat feet.

The deciding factor: The Board finds that the existing opinions are inadequate as they do not address the Veteran's contentions regarding ongoing symptoms and their relation to service. Additionally, there were no examinations or records addressing secondary service connection.,The Board also found that the existing opinions did not adequately consider the Veteran’s claims for secondary service connection.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"Bilateral Knee Condition","claimed_conditions":["Right and left knee"]}, {"condition_name":"Right Ankle Condition","claimed_conditions":["Right ankle"]}, {"condition_name":"Left Hip Condition","claimed_conditions":["Left hip"]}, {"condition_name":"Low Back Strain","claimed_conditions":["Low back strain"]}, {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disability","claimed_conditions":["Mood disorder","PTSD"]}, {"condition_name":"Headaches","claimed_conditions":["Headaches"]}, {"condition_name":"Right Shoulder Condition","claimed_conditions":["Right shoulder condition"]}, {"condition_name":"Heart Condition","claimed_conditions":["Heart condition"]}

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

June 4, 2019

Citation

19142400