Citation Nr: 21061855 Decision Date: 10/05/21 Archive Date: 10/05/21 DOCKET NO. 17-29 897 DATE: October 5, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from June 1967 to June 1970 and from August 1971 to August 1988. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2016 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In November 2019, the Veteran testified during a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript of the hearing is of record. In November 2019, the Board remanded this matter to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development. The case has since returned to the Board for the purpose of appellate disposition. 1. Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded. As indicated above, in November 2019 the Board remanded the matters on appeal for additional development, to include additional examination for opinion on the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities. The Veteran initially requested rescheduling of a February 2020 VA examination. However, a notice letter dated July 2021 indicates that the Veteran failed to report to the rescheduled examinations. However, in a September 2021 correspondence, the Veteran reported that he had not been notified of the examinations on the same day that the examinations were to be held. Accordingly, the Board finds that the Veteran has presented good cause for his failure to attend the examinations, and remand to provide the Veteran the examinations as instructed in the Board's November 2019 remand is warranted. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.655. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain a VA examination and opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed right shoulder disability. The examiner should review the record prior to the examination. The examiner should offer comments, and opinion, and supporting rationale that addresses whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was incurred in or otherwise due to the Veteran's service. In providing such an opinion, the examiner should address the Veteran's credible statements at the November 2019 hearing that he injured his right shoulder in a parachute landing and that he treated this injury with over-the-counter medication. The examiner should also address the Veteran's separation examination documenting report of a "painful" or "trick" shoulder or elbow. The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms and treatment, and that his reports must be taken into account, along with the other evidence of record, in formulating the requested opinions. The examiner should set forth all examination findings, along with the complete rationale for any conclusions reached. 2. Obtain a VA examination and opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed left knee disability. The examiner should review the record prior to the examination. The examiner should offer comments, and opinion, and supporting rationale that addresses whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent probability or greater) that the Veteran's left knee disability: 1) had its onset in or is otherwise related to service; or 2) is caused or aggravated (increased beyond the natural progression) by the service-connected right knee disability. In providing the requested opinions, the examiner should address the Veteran's credible statements at the November 2019 hearing that his left knee pain was present shortly after service and prior to his 2010 left knee injury. The examiner is advised that the Veteran is competent to report symptoms and treatment, and that his reports must be taken into account, along with the other evidence of record, in formulating the requested opinions. The examiner should set forth all examination findings, along with the complete rationale for any conclusions reached. A. S. CARACCIOLO Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board G. E. Wilkerson, 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.