Citation Nr: 18149579 Decision Date: 11/09/18 Archive Date: 11/09/18 DOCKET NO. 16-08 304 DATE: November 9, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for a left (minor) shoulder disability is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for a left ankle disability is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for a right ankle disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from September 2009 to June 2011. These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA or Board) from a September 2012 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in San Diego, California. By that rating action, the RO, in part, granted service connection for a left (minor) shoulder disability; plantar fasciitis of both feet and right and left ankle disabilities; each disability was assigned an initial noncompensable disability rating, effective June 28, 2011--the date VA received the Veteran’s initial claim for compensation for these disabilities. The Veteran appealed the RO’s assignment of initial noncompensable disability ratings to the above-cited service-connected disabilities to the Board. After the appeal was certified to the Board in December 2017, VA vocational rehabilitation records were associated with the Veteran’s record in February 2018. As the VA vocational rehabilitation records do not contain evidence discussing the current severity of the service-connected disabilities on appeal, they are not pertinent to the issues on appeal. Thus, a remand to have the RO issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) addressing these records is not required. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.1304 (2018). A remand is required, however, for reasons that are discussed below. The Veteran seeks initial compensable disability ratings for her service-connected left (minor) shoulder disability; plantar fasciitis of both feet and right and left ankle disabilities. She contends that these disabilities are more severely disabling than that reflected by the currently assigned noncompensable disability ratings because of constant pain that interferes with her ability to sleep and perform tasks of employment (i.e., difficulty working at the computer) and daily movements; weak feet; and bilateral ankle instability. (See Veteran’s Notice of Disagreement and Veteran’s statement to VA, received in July 2013 and February 2016, respectively). The Board finds that a remand is required regarding the issues on appeal. VA examined the Veteran’s left shoulder, feet and ankles to determine their current (then) severity in September 2015. (See VA Shoulder and Arm, Feet and Ankles Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)). During the pendency of the appeal, in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158, 170 (2016), the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) held that a VA examination evaluating the severity of a joint disability must record the results of motion testing “for pain on both active and passive motion [and] in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing.” The Board notes that findings from the September 2015 VA examinations are insufficient to assess the Veteran’s left (minor) shoulder disability, bilateral ankle disabilities and bilateral plantar fasciitis of the feet motion in passive motion, and (where relevant) weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing settings. Accordingly, the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of these disabilities prior to further appellate review of the initial rating claims on appeal. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected left (minor) shoulder; left and right foot plantar fasciitis, and right and left ankle disabilities. The entire claims file should be made available to and be reviewed by the examiners. 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 all opinions expressed must be provided. The examiners must utilize the appropriate Disability Benefits Questionnaire as it relates to the specific disability under evaluation. Additionally, the examiners must test the range of motion in active motion of the left shoulder, right and left feet and right and left ankles, passive motion, and (where appropriate) weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing settings. The appropriate examiner must also conduct the same testing on the right (major) shoulder. If an 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. (Continued on the next page)   2. Ensure compliance with the directives of this remand. If any report is deficient in any manner, the AOJ must implement corrective procedures. Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998). Thomas H. O'Shay Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Carole Kammel, Counsel