Citation Nr: 18149337 Decision Date: 11/09/18 Archive Date: 11/09/18 DOCKET NO. 16-24 196 DATE: November 9, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for bunions affecting the left foot is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for bunions affecting the right foot is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a ganglion cyst affecting the right wrist is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a low back condition is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from October 2003 to December 2011. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal of an August 2012 rating decision. 1. Entitlement to service connection for bunions affecting the left foot is remanded. The Veteran’s July 2002 Report of Medical Examination at entrance notes that the Veteran suffered from a bunion affecting his left foot. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for bunions affecting the Veteran’s left foot because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran’s pre-existing left foot bunion condition was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by his service, or whether his current bunion condition is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. A VA examination is required to resolve this claim. 2. Entitlement to service connection for bunions affecting the right foot is remanded. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for bunions affecting the Veteran’s right foot because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran suffers from bunions affecting his right foot as a result of his service. A VA examination is required to resolve this claim. 3. Entitlement to service connection for a ganglion cyst affecting the right wrist is remanded. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a ganglion cyst affecting the right wrist because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran suffers from a ganglion cyst affecting his right wrist as a result of his service. A VA examination is required to resolve this claim. 4. Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran suffers from a right shoulder condition as a result of his service. A VA examination is required to resolve this claim. 5. Entitlement to service connection for a low back condition is remanded. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran suffers from a low back condition as a result of his service. A VA examination is required to resolve this claim. 6. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran suffers from bilateral pes planus as a result of his service. A VA examination is required to resolve this claim. 7. Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran suffers from sleep apnea as a result of his service. A VA examination is required to resolve this claim. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain and associate with the claims file any VA treatment records not already of record. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any bunion condition affecting the Veteran’s left foot. The examiner must opine whether the bunion condition was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service. If the examiner finds that it was not clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service, the examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 3. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any bunion condition affecting the Veteran’s right foot. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 4. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any ganglion cyst affecting his right wrist. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 5. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any right shoulder condition. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 6. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any low back condition. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 7. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any pes planus. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. 8. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any sleep apnea. The examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. M. H. HAWLEY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD B. Moore, Associate Counsel