Citation Nr: 18140560 Decision Date: 10/04/18 Archive Date: 10/03/18 DOCKET NO. 16-21 432 DATE: October 4, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left wrist disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a back disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a neck disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded. Entitlement to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from July 1981 to June 1984. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) from rating decisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in St Louis, Missouri. The Board finds that no new and material evidence is needed in this case as relevant service treatment records were not of record last time these issues were adjudicated. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c). The Veteran’s representative argues that all service treatment records are not of record, including the enlistment examination and discharge examination. The Board agrees. The AOJ should attempt to obtain all service treatment records for this Veteran. The record shows current disabilities for the Veteran’s left wrist, back disability, neck disability, and left knee disability. See June 2015 VA treatment (diagnosis for neck); see August 2015 VA treatment record (diagnosis of the left wrist); see April 2010 VA treatment record (diagnosis of the knee); see December 2015 VA treatment record (diagnosis of the knee); see July 2011 private imaging (diagnosis of the back). The Veteran has reported that his disabilities began during his military service. Please provide examinations for all disabilities and determine if they are related to his military service to include the motor vehicle accident that occurred therein that is documented in his service treatment records. McClendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). Further development and adjudication of the Veteran’s claim for increase may provide evidence in support of his claim for a TDIU. The Board has therefore concluded that it would be inappropriate at this juncture to enter a final determination on that issue. See Henderson v. West, 12 Vet. App. 11 (1998), citing Harris v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 180 (1991). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain the Veteran’s complete service treatment records from July 1981 to June 1984. Document all requests for information as well as all responses in the claims file. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any left wrist disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including a motor vehicle accident. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability. The examiner should comment on the 2011 fall that occurred after his military service. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any back disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including a motor vehicle accident. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability. The examiner should comment on the 2011 fall that occurred after his military service. 4. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any neck disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including a motor vehicle accident. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability. The examiner should comment on the 2011 fall that occurred after his military service. 5. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee disability. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including a motor vehicle accident. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (1) proximately due to service-connected disability, or (2) aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disability. The examiner should comment on the 2011 fall that occurred after his military service. 6. Schedule the Veteran for an examination of the current severity of his traumatic brain injury disability and headache disability. To the extent possible, the examiner should identify any symptoms and functional impairments due to TBI and headaches and discuss the effect of the Veteran’s TBI and headache on any occupational functioning and activities of daily living. If it is not possible to provide a specific measurement, or an opinion regarding symptoms or functional impairment without speculation, the examiner must state whether the need to speculate is due to a deficiency in the state of general medical knowledge (no one could respond given medical science and the known facts), a deficiency in the record (additional facts are required), or the examiner (does not have the knowledge or training). 7. Readjudicate the Veteran’s claim, with application of all appropriate laws, regulations, and case law, and consideration of any additional information obtained as a result of this remand. If the decision remains adverse to the Veteran, he and his representative should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and afforded an appropriate period of time within which to respond thereto. KRISTI L. GUNN Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Tahirih S. Samadani, Counsel