Citation Nr: 18144299
Decision Date: 10/24/18	Archive Date: 10/24/18

DOCKET NO. 15-06 918
DATE:	October 24, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 21, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right shoulder disability is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from January 1991 to January 1995 and from April 1995 to May 2003. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a November 2012 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office.
Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 21, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right shoulder disability is remanded.
A review of the record shows the Veteran was last afforded a VA examination of the service-connected right shoulder disability in April 2016.  As indicated by the Veteran’s representative in the September 2018 appellate brief, findings from that examination appear insufficient to assess the Veteran’s motion in passive motion, and (where relevant) weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing settings.  As such, a remand is required for the increased rating claim for the service-connected right shoulder disability in light of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).  Accordingly, the Veteran should be afforded another VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the right shoulder disability.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate examiner to determine the current severity of the service-connected right shoulder disability.  The claims file should be accessible to and be reviewed by the examiner.  Any indicated tests and studies must be accomplished and all clinical findings must be reported in detail and correlated to a specific diagnosis.  An explanation for the opinion expressed must be provided.
The examiner must utilize the appropriate Disability Benefits Questionnaire.  The examiner must test the range of motion in active motion, passive motion, and (where appropriate) weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing settings.  If the examiner is unable to conduct the required testing or concludes that the required testing is not necessary in this case, he or she should clearly explain why that is so.
 
CAROLINE B. FLEMING
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Cheng, Associate Counsel