Citation Nr: 18159401 Decision Date: 12/19/18 Archive Date: 12/19/18 DOCKET NO. 18-50 484 DATE: December 19, 2018 ORDER New and material evidence having been received, the claim of entitlement to service connection for fracture, left wrist, resolved (left wrist disorder) is reopened. To this extent only, the appeal is granted. REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for left wrist disorder is remanded. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. A December 2011 rating decision denied entitlement to service connection for, left wrist disorder. The Veteran was notified of that decision, but did not initiate an appeal, and did not submit new and material evidence within one year of the notice of that rating decision. 2. The evidence received since December 2011, when considered by itself or in connection with evidence previously assembled, relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim, and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of entitlement to service connection for left wrist disorder. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. The December 2011 rating decision, which denied the Veteran’s claim of entitlement to service connection for left wrist disorder, is final. 38 U.S.C. § 7105(c); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.104, 3.156, 20.201, 20.302, 20.1103. 2. The evidence received since the December 2011 rating decision is new and material, and the claim of entitlement to service connection for left wrist disorder is reopened. 38 U.S.C. § 5108; 38 C.F.R. § 3.156. REASONS FOR REMAND Service connection may be granted if a current disability is found to arise in or be etiologically related to an event, injury, or illness during a period of active duty service. Active military service includes any period of ADT during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated in the line of duty, or any period of inactive duty for training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from injury incurred in or aggravated in line of duty. 38 U.S.C. § 101(21) and (24); 38 C.F.R. § 3.6(a) and (d). It follows that service connection may be granted for disability resulting from disease or injury incurred or aggravated while performing ADT, or from injury (but not diseases) incurred or aggravated while performing inactive duty training (IDT). 38 U.S.C. §§ 101(24), 106, 1131. The Veteran contends that his left wrist disorder occurred in April 1992 while he was serving on active duty for training (ADT) in Hawaii. Consistent with the Veteran’s assertions, his military personnel records note that the Veteran was injured in April 1992. The Veteran’s military personnel records also note that the injury occurred in the line of duty. In August 2011, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left wrist disorder. The examiner concluded that the left wrist disorder occurred in 1992 following the Veteran’s deployment and was not associated with any specific exposure event experienced by the Veteran during service in Southwest Asia. The Board notes that the examiner did not address whether the Veteran has a current left wrist disorder related to the injury sustained during the period of ADT. See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 312 (2007) (If VA undertakes the effort to provide the Veteran with a medical examination, it must ensure that such exam is an adequate one). As such, the Board finds that a remand in necessary to provide the Veteran a new VA examination. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain and associate all outstanding VA treatment records with the claims file. 2. Contact the Veteran and request that he identify all private providers who have treated him for his left wrist disorder. After obtaining authorization, obtain all outstanding, non-duplicative records. If the records are unavailable, document the claims file and notify in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). 3. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left wrist disorder. The evidentiary record must be made available to and reviewed by the examiner. Any indicated tests and studies must be accomplished and all clinical findings must be reported in detail. Based on the evidence of record, the examiner must provide an opinion on the following: i. Is it as likely as not (a 50 percent probability or more) that the Veteran has a current left wrist disorder that arose in or is otherwise etiologically related to his period of ADT or IDT? 4. Then, readjudicate the issue on appeal. If the benefit sought on appeal remains denied, furnish the Veteran and his representative a supplemental statement of the case and afford them the opportunity to respond before the file is returned to the Board for further consideration. MICHAEL LANE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD T. Henry, Associate Counsel