Citation Nr: 18142656
Decision Date: 10/16/18	Archive Date: 10/16/18

DOCKET NO. 16-21 908
DATE:	October 16, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a left elbow condition, with bursitis is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty with the United States Army from May 2003 to May 2008.
Entitlement to service connection for a left elbow condition, with bursitis is remanded.
The Veteran’s service treatment records show treatment for bursitis olecranon. Personal statements from the Veteran endorse continuous left elbow symptoms since service. Post-service treatment records from 2013 record a diagnosis of bursitis of the left elbow.  As the record suggests a possible nexus, the Board finds that a VA examination is warranted. See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006); 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4).
Further, while the appeal is in remand status any outstanding VA and private treatment records should be obtained and associated with the record.  See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A(b).


The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain updated VA and private treatment records and associate them with the claims file.
2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate clinician to obtain an opinion as to the nature and etiology of his left elbow bursitis.  Following physical examination, interview of the Veteran, and review of the claims file, the examiner should address the following: 
a.	Identify/diagnose any disability of the left elbow that presently exists or that has existed during the pendency of the appeal.  The clinical significance, if any, of the 2013 records documenting a diagnosis of bursitis of the left elbow should be addressed. 
b.	For each diagnosed disability of the left elbow, the examiner is requested to opine whether it is at least as likely as not (more than a 50 percent probability) that the Veteran’s left elbow disability had its onset during service or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service, to include the in-service diagnosis of bursitis olecranon.
A complete rationale must be provided for all opinions offered.  If an opinion cannot be offered without resort to mere speculation, the examiner must fully explain why this is the case and identify what additional evidence, if any, would allow for a more definitive opinion.
The appellant has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on the matter or matters the Board has remanded.  Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet. App. 369 (1999).
This claim must be afforded expeditious treatment.  The law requires that all claims that are remanded by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals or by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for additional development or other appropriate action must be handled in an expeditious manner.  See 38 U.S.C. §§ 5109B, 7112 (West 2014).
 
MICHAEL A. HERMAN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Whitaker, Associate Counsel