Citation Nr: 21004084 Decision Date: 01/26/21 Archive Date: 01/26/21 DOCKET NO. 14-38 379 DATE: January 26, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected gastritis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty with the United States Army from January 1991 to September 1991, May 2004 to September 2005, and from April 2008 to June 2009. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a December 2010 rating decision issued by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Board remanded this matter in August 2018 for additional development. The matter is now returned to the Board for further appellate review. This appeal is advanced on the Board's docket pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 20.902(c) (2019); 38 U.S.C. § 7107 (a)(2) (2012). Entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected gastritis is remanded. The Veteran’s chronic gastritis is rated in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7307. A 10 percent rating is warranted when there are associated small nodular lesions, and symptoms. A 30 percent rating is warranted when there are multiple small eroded or ulcerated areas, and symptoms. A 60 percent rating is warranted when there are severe hemorrhages, or large ulcerated or eroded areas. In August 2018, the Board remanded the Veteran’s claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected gastritis, finding the March 2016 opinion of record to be inadequate. VA provided the Veteran an examination in November 2019 to determine the severity of the Veteran’s gastritis; however, the examination is inadequate to adjudicate the Veteran’s claim. The November 2019 VA examination indicated that the Veteran's gastritis manifested with, among other symptoms, abdominal pain, acid reflux, and bloating. The Veteran's treatment plan includes taking continuous medication and there have been no incapacitating episodes due to signs or symptoms of any stomach or duodenum condition. An endoscopy and biopsy were both conducted in April 2017, which were noted as “normal.” VA did not conduct any other additional diagnostic imaging studies, diagnostic procedures, or laboratory testing as part of the examination. The November 2019 VA examination did not specifically address the presence or absence of nodular lesions, eroded or ulcerated areas or hemorrhages, which, as noted, are requirements of increased compensable disability ratings under Diagnostic Code 7307. As such, remand is required for a new VA examination that specifically discusses the presence or absence of the relevant symptomatology. See 38 C.F.R. § 4.2 (stating that "if the [examination] report does not contain sufficient detail; it is incumbent upon the rating board to return the report as inadequate for evaluation purposes"). See Barr v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 303, 311 (2007) (once VA undertakes to provide an examination, it must provide an adequate one). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Schedule the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of his service-connected gastritis. The examiner should provide a full description of the disability and report all signs and symptoms necessary for evaluating the Veteran’s disability under the rating criteria. The examiner is asked to specifically address the presence or absence of nodular lesions, eroded or ulcerated areas or hemorrhages, as outlined under Diagnostic Code 7307. M. HYLAND Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board Zachery S.C. Luce, Associate Counsel 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.