Citation Nr: 18157051
Decision Date: 12/11/18	Archive Date: 12/11/18

DOCKET NO. 16-57 141
DATE:	December 11, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder impairment is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from June 1974 to June 1977. 
While further delay is regrettable, the Board finds that additional development is warranted prior to adjudication of the Veteran’s claims.
The Board finds that a medical examination is warranted.  VA will provide a medical examination or obtain a medical opinion if the record, including lay or medical evidence, contains competent evidence of a disability that may be associated with an event, injury, or disease that occurred in service, but the record does not contain sufficient medical evidence to decide the claim.  38 U.S.C.  § 5103A(d); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006).  The threshold for determining whether the evidence “indicates” that there “may” be a nexus between a current disability and an in-service event, injury, or disease is a low one.  McLendon, 20 Vet. App. at 83.
The Veteran maintains that his left shoulder impairment is related to injuries sustained during service.  Service treatment records (STR) show that the Veteran was treated multiple times for football related injuries involving the left side of his body.  Further, recent treatment records from April 2015 show that the Veteran suffers from left acromioclavicular arthropathy with probable mild chronic tendinitis.
Considering the Veteran has demonstrated both a current impairment and at least one in-service event, the Board believes that a medical examination with opinions based on full consideration of the Veteran’s documented medical history and assertions, and supported by clearly stated rationale, would be helpful in resolving the service-connection claim.  See 38 U.S.C. § 5103A; 38 C.F.R. § 3.159; McLendon, 20 Vet. App. at 79.  
In this regard, the Board notes that the Veteran has not yet undergone a VA examination in connection with his left shoulder condition.  However, the claims file contains competent evidence of the claimed disability and Veteran’s in-service history of potentially relevant symptoms or events.  See, e.g., service treatment records indicating multiple injuries to the Veteran’s left side while playing football. 
Accordingly, the matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Identify and obtain any pertinent, outstanding VA and private treatment records not already of record in the claims file.  
If possible, the Veteran should get these records himself to expedite the case
2. Then, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an examiner with appropriate expertise to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present right shoulder disabilities.  The claims file must be made available to, and reviewed in its entirety by the examiner.  Any indicated studies should be performed.
Based on the examination results and review of the record, the examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or greater) that any currently present right shoulder disability is etiologically related to the Veteran’s active service. 
The rationale for all opinions expressed must be provided.
3. Then, readjudicate the claim on appeal.  If a decision is adverse to the Veteran, issue a supplemental statement of the case and allow the appropriate time for a response.  Then return the case to the Board. 
 
JOHN J CROWLEY
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	V. Woehlke, Associate Counsel