Citation Nr: 20007446 Decision Date: 01/29/20 Archive Date: 01/29/20 DOCKET NO. 14-22 506 DATE: January 29, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served honorably in the United States Army from July 1991 to August 1993 and October 2004 to January 2006. The Veteran also had additional service in the Michigan Army National Guard until 2013. Although the Board regrets the delay, remand is required to ensure there is a complete record on which to decide the Veteran’s claim. Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded. The Veteran alleges entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability related to active duty service. The medical records show the Veteran has a current right shoulder impairment. See July 2016 VA examination. Further, the service treatment records (STRs) show the Veteran injured his shoulder during the line of duty in January 2001. See STRs dated January 7, 2001. Further, the Veteran was seen in December 2009 for shoulder pain while serving in the Army National Guard. Following a June 2016 Board decision, the Veteran was seen for a VA examination in July 2016 to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s right shoulder disorder. The examiner concluded that there was no basis for a nexus due to the evidence that the Veteran was not medically discharged and was able to complete his tour of active duty following his right shoulder injury. The examiner also stated the degenerative changes of the Veteran’s shoulder were due to the normal aging process. The Board finds the examiner’s rationale insufficient. The evidence that the Veteran was not medically discharged due to his shoulder injury is not relevant to the question of nexus. Further, the examiner failed to consider the evidence of ongoing treatment for the Veteran’s right shoulder condition following the initial injury. Accordingly, an additional VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s right shoulder disability is warranted. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: (Continued on the next page)   1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any right shoulder disability. The examiner is asked to elicit a complete history from the Veteran and provide written consideration of the Veteran’s statements. The examiner must opine whether the right shoulder disability is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease, including the January 2001 fall. A. S. CARACCIOLO Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Laura C. Owens 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.