Citation Nr: 18151531 Decision Date: 11/19/18 Archive Date: 11/19/18 DOCKET NO. 10-00 319A DATE: November 19, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lipoma, right anterior lumbar area, is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for two lipomas, left upper extremity, is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for two lipomas, right upper extremity, prior to May 10, 2017, is remanded. Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for two lipomas, right upper extremity, since May 10, 2017, is remanded. Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for six lipomas, trunk of body, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from September 1965 to May 1969. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2009 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In May 2017, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing held at the RO before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of this hearing has been added to the Veteran’s electronic claims file. The case was last before the Board in August 2017, the Board remanded this matter for additional evidentiary development. 1. Entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lipoma, right anterior lumbar area, is remanded. 2. Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for two lipomas, left upper extremity, is remanded. 3. Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for two lipomas, right upper extremity, prior to May 10, 2017, is remanded. 4. Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for two lipomas, right upper extremity, prior to May 10, 2017, is remanded. 5. Entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for six lipomas, trunk of body, is remanded. Unfortunately, there has not been substantial compliance with the Board’s previous remand directives regarding the issues Another remand is required. Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998). The October 2017 VA examinations of the skin and scars failed to adequately identify the location, size and severity of the Veteran’s various lipomas. It is also unclear from these examinations whether the Veteran’s service-connected lipoma on the right anterior lumbar area was considered. As noted in the August 2018 Supplemental Statement of the Case, the October 2017 VA examinations identified new lipomas in the anterior lower chest, bilateral anterior chest, left and right flank; and that service connection for these would be referred to the RO for subsequent adjudication. Because a decision on these issues could significantly impact a decision on the issues being addressed on appeal, these issues are inextricably intertwined, and a remand of the claims on appeal is required pending adjudication of the service connection issues relating to these newly identified lipomas. 38 C.F.R. § 4.20. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain updated VA treatment records dating since June 2017. 2. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected lipoma, right anterior lumbar area; two lipomas, left upper extremity; two lipomas, right upper extremity; and six lipomas, trunk of body. The examiner must also identify the location and current severity of any additional lipomas found on the Veteran’s body. Finally, the examiner must opine whether any newly identified lipoma is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran’s miliary service as a maturation or continuation of the in-service condition or whether it is related to his service-connected lipomas. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s lipomas under the rating criteria. The examiner must attempt to elicit information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups, and the degree of any functional loss relating to the Veteran’s lipomas. 2. After the above development, and any additionally indicated development, has been completed, readjudicate the issues on appeal, including the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection for any additional lipomas found during this appeal, including new lipomas in the anterior lower chest, bilateral anterior chest, left and right flank. K. A. BANFIELD Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD W. Yates, Counsel