Citation Nr: 18139927 Decision Date: 10/01/18 Archive Date: 10/01/18 DOCKET NO. 15-45 988 DATE: October 1, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for an eye condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for joint pain, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right shoulder condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left shoulder condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a neck condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right wrist condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left wrist condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for finger condition of the right hand, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for finger condition of the left hand, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right knee condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left knee condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for right ankle condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for left ankle condition, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty in the Navy from July 1962 to August 1966. This matter is on appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from a May 2013 rating decision of a regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The record reflects that the Veteran failed to show for VA examinations scheduled in conjunction with his claims. However, the Veteran stated that he tried to call and reschedule the examinations due to a schedule conflict. See Report of General Contact dated August 2013; Notice of Disagreement dated November 2013. It is unclear whether the Veteran’s request to reschedule the examinations for a later time were provided. Since there is some evidence of good cause for the Veteran’s inability to report for the VA examinations, that he was in fact out of town and requested to reschedule the examinations, the Board finds that he should be given an opportunity for another examination. 38 C.F.R. § 3.327(a). Furthermore, as the Veteran has not been afforded VA examinations, there are no etiological medical opinions of record that addresses his lay statements. In this regard, there is insufficient medical evidence for the Board to make a decision on whether any of the claimed conditions are related to service. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). Accordingly, a remand is necessary. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Eye Condition Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed eye condition. The claims file, including this remand, should be reviewed by the examiner to become familiar with the Veteran’s pertinent medical history and such review should be noted in the examination report. All indicated studies, tests and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed and the results of such must be included in the examination report. After reviewing claims file, the examiner should provide an opinion addressing the following: Determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosed eye disability. For each such diagnosed condition, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the current diagnosed condition is etiologically related to the Veteran’s active service. The examiner must explain why or why not for all conclusions reached. 2. Joint Pain, Shoulder, and Neck Conditions Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed joint pain, shoulder, and neck conditions. The claims file, including this remand, should be reviewed by the examiner to become familiar with the Veteran’s pertinent medical history and such review should be noted in the examination report. All indicated studies, tests and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed and the results of such must be included in the examination report. After reviewing claims file, the examiner should provide an opinion addressing the following: Determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosed disability of joint pain, shoulder, and neck. For each such diagnosed condition, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the current diagnosed condition is etiologically related to the Veteran’s active service. The examiner must explain why or why not for all conclusions reached. 3. Wrist and Hand Conditions Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed wrist and hand conditions. The claims file, including this remand, should be reviewed by the examiner to become familiar with the Veteran’s pertinent medical history and such review should be noted in the examination report. All indicated studies, tests and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed and the results of such must be included in the examination report. After reviewing claims file, the examiner should provide an opinion addressing the following: Determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosed disability of the wrists and hands. For each such diagnosed condition, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the current diagnosed condition is etiologically related to the Veteran’s active service. The examiner must explain why or why not for all conclusions reached. 4. Knees and Ankle Conditions Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed knees and ankle conditions. The claims file, including this remand, should be reviewed by the examiner to become familiar with the Veteran’s pertinent medical history and such review should be noted in the examination report. All indicated studies, tests and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed and the results of such must be included in the examination report. After reviewing claims file, the examiner should provide an opinion addressing the following: Determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosed disability of the knees and ankles. For each such diagnosed condition, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the current diagnosed condition is etiologically related to the Veteran’s active service. The examiner must explain why or why not for all conclusions reached. 5. Peripheral Neuropathy of the Upper and Lower Extremities Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination with an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claims file, including this remand, should be reviewed by the examiner to become familiar with the Veteran’s pertinent medical history and such review should be noted in the examination report. All indicated studies, tests and evaluations deemed necessary by the examiner should be performed and the results of such must be included in the examination report. After reviewing claims file, the examiner should provide an opinion addressing the following: Determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosed disability of peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. For each such diagnosed condition, the examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the current diagnosed condition is etiologically related to the Veteran’s active service. The examiner must explain why or why not for all conclusions reached. 6. After completing the requested actions, and any additional development deemed warranted, readjudicate the claims in light of all pertinent evidence and legal authority. If the claims remain denied, a supplemental statement of the case must be provided to the Veteran. After the Veteran and her representative have had an adequate opportunity to respond, the appeal must be returned to the Board for appellate review. KELLI A. KORDICH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD S. An, Associate Counsel