Citation Nr: 20004014 Decision Date: 01/16/20 Archive Date: 01/16/20 DOCKET NO. 19-00 629A DATE: January 16, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served in the United States Coast Guard from July 2003 to October 2003 and from January 2006 to March 2007. This matter comes to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2016 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Seattle, Washington. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded. Although the Board regrets the delay, additional development is needed prior to further disposition of the claim for entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition. The Veteran contends a current left shoulder disability is due to active service. Specifically, the Veteran contends that the current disability stems from an incident that occurred in October 2003 when he was injured while practicing a technique called “fast roping” in-service. Medical records confirm that the Veteran was diagnosed with impingement syndrome of the left shoulder in January 2015. Additionally, the Veteran was diagnosed with mild hypertrophic degenerative changes of the AC joint of the left shoulder in July 2015. Currently, there are no competent, medical opinions of record pertaining to the Veterans left shoulder disability and any relationship to service. The Veteran has not been provided a VA examination which addresses any relationship between any left shoulder disability and active service. VA’s duty to assist includes, in appropriate cases, the duty to conduct a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination which is accurate and fully descriptive. McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006); Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121 (1991). Because the Veteran’s left shoulder disability may have been caused by service, the Board finds that a VA opinion to determine any relationship between the Veteran’s left shoulder disability and service should be scheduled. VA should obtain all relevant VA and private treatment records which could potentially be helpful in resolving the Veteran’s claim. Murphy v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 78 (1990); Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992). The Veteran is notified that it is his responsibility to report for any scheduled examination and to cooperate in the development of the claim. The consequences for failure to report for a VA examination without good cause may include denial of the claim. 38 C.F.R. § 3.655. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Contact the Veteran and request that he provide information as to treatment for any and all left shoulder disabilities, including the names and addresses of all health care providers whose records have not already been provided to VA. On receipt of the requested information and the appropriate releases, contact all identified health care providers and request copies of all available records pertaining to treatment of the Veteran, not already of record. If identified records are not obtained, then notify the Veteran. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(e). 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA orthopedic examination to diagnose and determine the nature and etiology of the any left shoulder disability. The examiner must review the claims file, including this Remand, and should indicate review of the file in the report. The examiner should diagnose all left shoulder disabilities found. If the examiner diagnoses a left shoulder disability, to include pain resulting in functional loss, the examiner must opine whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that any current left shoulder disability is etiologically related to active service or any event, disease, or injury during service, including whether any shoulder disability (1) began during active service, (2) manifested as shoulder arthritis within one year after separation from service, (3) was noted during service with continuity of the same symptomatology since service, (4) was caused by any service-connected disability or treatment for any service-connected disability, or (5) has been aggravated (increased in severity beyond the natural progress of the disorder) by any service-connected disability, or treatment for any service-connected disability. Please cite to any evidence to support a finding of left shoulder arthritis within one year following separation from service. The examiner should address the Veteran’s lay statements, if any, regarding the claimed left shoulder disability and its etiology. The examiner must consider and discuss the lay statements and should reconcile the opinion with any previous opinions of record. A clearly stated rationale for each opinion offered must be provided and cannot be based on the lack of an in-service record of the claimed disability. Harvey P. Roberts Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Department of Veterans Affairs The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.