Citation Nr: 18154893
Decision Date: 12/04/18	Archive Date: 11/30/18

DOCKET NO. 16-39 240
DATE:	December 4, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent and a rating in excess of 30 percent from March 13, 2015, for a right shoulder injury with retained metallic residuals is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran had active service from November 1967 to November 1969.  
1. Entitlement to increased initial rating for a right shoulder disability is remanded.
The Board finds the record would benefit if a VA examination was conducted to determine the impairment currently associated with the right shoulder disability.  
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Undertake appropriate development to obtain any outstanding, pertinent evidence.  
2. Afford the Veteran a VA examination by an examiner with sufficient expertise to fully assess the Veteran’s service-connected right shoulder disability.  Any specific residual of muscle injury and associated functional impairment of the right shoulder joint should be noted.  
All pertinent evidence of record should be made available to and reviewed by the examiner.  Any indicated studies should be performed.  If the examiner is unable to conduct the required testing or concludes any required testing is not necessary, he or she must explain why that is so. The examiner must provide all information required for rating purposes.
3. Thereafter, readjudicate the Veteran’s claim.  If the benefit sought on appeal remains denied, the Veteran should be provided a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).  The SSOC must contain notice of all relevant actions taken on the claims for benefits, to include a summary of the evidence and applicable law and regulations considered pertinent to the issue currently on appeal.  An appropriate period of time should be allowed for response. 
 
T. REYNOLDS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	N. Snyder, counsel